Oceanfront Cottage

Project Location: Southern Coast, Maine

This shingle-style cottage in a small coastal village provides its owners a cherished spot on Maine’s rocky coastline. Sited one block east of a home they had summered in for years, the new house conveys a commanding 180-degree view of the ocean and surrounding natural beauty. Having long admired the historic shingle-style cottages that dot the coast of Maine, our clients wanted their new cottage to evoke these qualities, while appearing like it has always been there.

A couple nearing retirement with two adult children, the homeowners sought a house with enough space for their expanding family. Our design included a large kitchen, dining, living, and entertainment space with fireplaces, as well as play space for future grandchildren and a barnlike garage with future upper-level guest space. The kitchen and main living spaces open onto a generous waterfront screened porch that includes an outdoor fireplace. Careful planning affords an ocean view from all bedrooms and a second-floor balcony. An attic bunkroom, tucked under the eaves, provides space for future grandchildren and the next generation of summer memories.

Our site-specific design, with its extensive use of regional materials and forms, feels like it has always been a part of the local community. While at first glance it has passed for something much older, in reality it is an energy-efficient home appropriate for today. A rain screen wall system, high-performance windows, spray-foam insulation, geothermal heating with radiant floor delivery, and heat recovery ventilation provide long-term value and comfortable year round living.

Project Completion Date: 2011

Photography:

Trent Bell

Collaborators:

• Landscape Architect: Richardson & Associates Landscape Architects
• Structural Engineer: Albert Putnam Associates