CopperDrifts

Sheet Metal Contractor

Airtech Energy Systems and Copper Design, Inc.
South Chatham, Massachusetts

General Contractor

Homes by Sisson
Orleans, Massachusetts

CopperDrifts is a 7,000-square-foot residence built on the crest of a vegetated dune at the Cape Cod National Seashore. Clad primarily in copper above a rough concrete base, the house has weathered into a rich patina that visually recedes into the surrounding landscape while providing an enriched material experience for the residents and their guests.

The 20-ounce flat-lock panels range from 12 inches to 16 inches high in relation to the scale of each building. Panels align with fenestration and were sized to minimize waste, with custom field-bent and soldered window trim details and copings. The standing-seam copper elements at the chimneys accentuate the verticality of these volumes; the custom chimney caps are designed to shroud the flues from high winds and downdrafts.

The structure comprises three volumes that extend east to west across the crest of the dune, all connected by outdoor spaces for entertaining. The two largest structures slip past each other. A central stair in the interstitial gap links the seven different levels of the home, including access to a roof deck, screened porch, a shaded terrace, and a pool deck.