The solid, hand-forged steel front door, six feet wide, looks like something that might mark the entrance to a medieval castle. But step over the threshold, and the scene that unfolds is anything but: sunlight pours into a bright, airy double-height living room through a wall of windows 20 feet high and 25 feet across, framing views of a rare slice of nature unblemished by development.

Raised 11 feet above sea level and composed of a series of crisp, interlocking white cubes, the exterior features sharp lines, geometric forms and precise angles that stand out sharply against the undulating forms of the tranquil waterways and pristine mangrove outcroppings.

One of the owner’s few specifications for the project was a long lap pool, heated so that he could swim year-round. Impressive in size for a private pool, it stretches 82 feet across the width of the lot, its outer edge creating a seawall that will help to hold back storm surges, while a shallow sunbathing shelf close to the house allows for more leisurely pool pursuits.

Other than the pool, the owner gave architect Robert Towell of Robert Towell Architect Ltd., carte blanche to design and project manage a striking contemporary house, adding a few considered details of his own as the project progressed.

It was the wall-to-wall windows from Designer Windows and Doors – the bottom row 12 feet high and the transom windows above them five feet high – that were the starting point for the design, the architect says.

Oriented to the east to capture the breezes and morning sun, this mostly glass façade bathes the interiors in natural light and ensures the views become an intrinsic part of the design, while the western side features only small windows that provide privacy and prevent heat gain from the afternoon sun.

Within the smooth white walls and gleaming panes of glass, an airy open concept living, dining and kitchen space occupies the lower level; two bedrooms connected by a bridge are on the middle level, while the top floor is reserved for the very private primary suite.

The soaring living room was initially designed as a combined living and dining space connected with the kitchen, with a covered outdoor dining room leading off it. Construction was already underway when the owner suggested closing in the terrace to create a separate dining area. It was a simple adjustment in terms of construction, Towell says, but one that doubled the size of the living room, added an informal den and dining area and enhanced the design immeasurably.

Despite the dramatic ceiling height, a sense of tranquillity pervades the interior. Thanks to the combined effects of abundant glass and light and simple furnishing, the 5000 square-foot house feels larger than it is; soft greys and blues and matte finishes keep the interiors muted, allowing the wide-screen views to be the dominant feature.

The living room, with its chunky hardwood coffee tables and oversize sectional sofas from Living.ky, is ideal for entertaining, while in the den, pockets built into the ceiling allow blinds to be rolled down and the space darkened when the occasion calls for a movie night.

The real hub, however, is the magnificent open-plan kitchen, which enjoys the ultimate vantage point, with views of the entire ground floor as well as of the garden and pool. Bold black and white cabinetry with push-to-open mechanisms and a vast 12 x 5 foot kitchen island covered with a single jumbo slab of Caesarstone create a serene and seamless aesthetic. The slight imperfections in the stone, the matte finish on the cabinetry, and the rough texture of the flagstone behind the glass-fronted wine cellar lend this space a grounded, earthy feel, while the three smoke-finish Tom Dixon pendant lights over the island bring in just a touch of glamour.

A central staircase ascends to the first floor, with a catwalk across the double-height space connecting two bedrooms – the ‘pink room’ with a balcony overlooking the pool at one end, and at the other end, a second bedroom with an expansive terrace and a spectacular black and white bathroom. Here, a freestanding tub sits below a large window, and beyond it, a huge walk-in shower is tiled in large-format black tiles. A discreet door leads from the shower to its outdoor counterpart, enclosed by eight-foot walls so that guests can shower under the stars in complete privacy.

Ascend another level, and one reaches the home’s pinnacle – the crowning glory. A true retreat, the primary bedroom is decorated in muted tones and furnished with simple quality pieces from Living.ky. Featuring a walk-in closet, ensuite bathroom and dual aspect floor-to-ceiling windows that lead out onto a vast private terrace styled with outdoor furniture by Sticks and Stones and rugs and accessories from Ledger and Looms. Like a crow’s nest on a ship, the elevation offers sweeping 270-degree views. Looking east, one sees over the top of the mangroves and out over the watery expanse of the North Sound; to the west, the sparkling lights
and communities of Seven Mile Beach.

Outdoors, a sunken firepit looks across the pool to the tranquil waterways. With no sign of other buildings or civilisation in sight, it’s a perfect spot for stargazing on a clear night. Adjacent to this, a white pebbled path leads through a Zen garden to the white-framed outdoor barbecue and dining area, soon to be shaded by a trellis with solar panels above.

One of the owner’s quirkier purchases was the massive stone sculpture, carved and polished from a single river rock, with a hollow large enough to climb into. Initially intended for Sticks & Stones’ own garden, it was too heavy to lift into place there, and when the owner saw it, he had to have it. Weighing five tons, it took a crane to manoeuvre into position but now, illuminated at night, its round edges and polished finish are a pleasing counterpoint to the straight lines and sharp edges surrounding it.

It is precisely that multitude of contrasts peppered throughout the property – the bright, white exterior with its darker, stacked stone panels, the gleaming glass against the opaque steel doors, the smooth and the rough, the perfect and imperfect, that makes the design so intriguing. Above all, though, it is the contrast between the precision and engineering of this manmade structure and the irregular, undulating forms of its natural surroundings that is the most startling. And that contrast perfectly fits the site, on the edge of the bright lights of civilisation on one side and the pristine natural scene on the other.