Keys Stilt House

An elevated stilt house rising from the shallows of the Keys backcountry.

Three miles from the nearest paved road, connected to civilization only by a wooden causeway and a good pair of binoculars, the Keys Stilt House rises twelve feet above the shallows on creosote-soaked pilings. The main floor is a single airy loft with louvered windows on all sides, catching whatever breeze rolls in off the flats. A wraparound deck doubles as living space, and an exterior staircase climbs to a rooftop sundeck with unimpeded 360-degree views. Beneath the house, the open ground-level area serves as covered parking, dry storage, and a place to hang wet gear. A small solar array on the roof keeps the lights on without hooking into the grid. The only downside is the mosquitoes, which are large enough to qualify as wildlife.