Palmetto Bluff Dogtrot
Cooling Breezes and Spectacular Views
Set high on a bluff above the May River, this home was imagined as a year-round retreat that would feel timeless, connected to place, and in harmony with the rhythms of the Lowcountry. It needed to honor Southern traditions, respond to the unique challenges of the coastal climate, and offer a serene escape for rest, gathering, and watching the river shift with the tides.
Featured in our upcoming book Contemporary Southern Vernacular: Creating Sustainable Houses for Hot, Humid Climates
Featured in Southern Living Magazine, 2011
AIA South Carolina Merit Award, 2010
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Awards
2010 AIA South Carolina Robert Mills
Residential Design Merit Award
Publications
Southern Living Magazine, January 2023
Southern Living, Hot to Trot, October 2011Contractor
Bay 10 VenturesLocation
Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton SCStyle
Contemporary Vernacular
Inspired by Tradition
Drawing inspiration from the historic dogtrot form, the design uses a central breezeway and four open corners to harness prevailing winds, a time-tested strategy for passive cooling long before the invention of air conditioning. We reinterpreted this traditional layout for modern living, making the central space flexible: it can open completely to the outdoors or be enclosed with folding doors, hidden screens, and an insulated wall when comfort calls for it.
Designed for Comfort and Climate
This adaptive space became the soul of the home, blurring boundaries between indoors and out while framing wide river views and welcoming in every breeze. Every material, proportion, and detail was chosen to reflect the vernacular of the region while delivering modern performance. From the shaded porches to the elevated foundation, it’s a house built with both legacy and resilience in mind.
The result is more than a home, it’s a love letter to Southern architecture and a blueprint for how to live in tune with nature. It’s no surprise that this design holds a special place in our hearts, featured in our book as a quintessential example of what happens when architecture listens to its site and celebrates the beauty of climate-responsive design.
From the client…
“Jane and Michael were a delight to work with. They designed our house here at Palmetto Bluff seven years ago and have now designed a second carriage house with an apartment above for our property. Everyone is constantly impressed by the quality of the design and by the lovely touches that make the house so special. Michael and Jane are wonderful professionals, but they are also fun and interesting people who make the sometimes (sometimes!?) stressful process of house building a pleasure. Could not recommend more highly.”