A place to cook outdoors has become ubiquitous among clients’ programming requests, says architect Philip Regan, principal at Hutker Architects. Normally it’s a straightforward process to lay out a section of terrace or decking for a grill, but in the case of this Martha’s Vineyard vacation house, placing anything in the way of the seascape panorama had to be handled with extreme grace. Regan notes that the clients desired unobstructed views of the scenery, a nearby lighthouse, and the distant water, but they also wanted to be able to grill fish while gazing out across that same vista.
“We tucked the grill into the stone wall that delineates the natural landscape from the small area that we hardscaped and set up for outdoor living,” Regan says. The low wall stands at about 26 inches, which is the ideal height for sitting, thus minimizing the need for furniture. Local stones are stacked with no visible grout lines, similar in look to the cobbled beach-stone terrace. Surrounding the grill, the wall widens slightly and is topped with a honed granite slab for prep work and serving. The landscaping around the wall includes indigenous plants that can withstand the island’s harsh climate. — shelley d. hutchins
