The waterfront property for this project is long and narrow, situated on Burien's Seola Beach with a view across Puget Sound to Vashon Island. That portion of the site allowable for construction was quite small. A steep slope, which provides a pleasant buffering backdrop, becomes a threatening source for landslides, while the house had to be set back from the water (and at a minimum allowed elevation) for protection from storm-surge flooding. Access is provided by an existing drive which terminates partway up the hillside, at a point that was three stories above the owners' pre-existing home. A replacement structure was requested to establish a simple, comfortable presence within a beach context.