Situated on the dramatic rocky coastline of southern Maine, this new home provides panoramic views as well as living, entertaining, and work spaces for its design-minded owners. Simple forms are interconnected to create an expansive and cohesive living space. Exhibiting a modern aesthetic with an eye to sustainability, this home was designed with “Japandi” influence, focusing on simplicity, nature, and coziness.

The clients lived in the original home on the site for years and had a comprehensive understanding of the views their property had to offer. They spent a significant amount of time outside on the original deck, relaxing and entertaining family and friends. Their new home needed to have this as one of the main focal points.

Once the existing house was demolished, and all salvageable materials were donated, the team meticulously determined the vertical location of the new house by building a set of stand-alone stairs and climbing to different heights to look out over the ocean. This exercise led to a first-floor height that elevates the inhabitant to a level where the land is no longer visible, creating the impression of being aboard a ship.

Approaching the front entry, and by means of full-height glazing, a visitor can look past the living room out to the ocean beyond. A three-sided fireplace in the living room provides an internal focal point for dark, cozy evenings. Directly adjacent to the living room is a large dining area with wet bar neighboring an extensive kitchen. These three spaces coexist while remaining functionally separate, all while enjoying the ocean view.

Stepping to the exterior reveals an ample deck, expanding the full length of the house. The deck includes several seating areas along with a grill, a soak pool, and an outdoor shower. Wrap around steps lead down to the lawn with plenty of space for yard games on sunny days. The cantilevered guest rooms, along with a second-floor deck, provide shaded seating areas on the deck below.

The overall building envelope is designed to be within “A Pretty Good House” standards. Exterior insulation was used to minimize thermal bridging, with the wall cavity and roof filled with dens-pack cellulose insulation. The air sealing of the home was paid close attention to, to maximize the airtightness through all stages of construction. The heating and cooling needs, along with the electric car charger, are offset by the solar panels that were installed on the south facing roofs. A low maintenance green roof was utilized to reduce temperature of the roof and reduce water run-off. The surrounding yard consists of low maintenance landscaping and native plants to reduce need for watering.

All-in-all, this home was a true collaboration between owner, architect, interior designer, landscape architect and builder. Working closely throughout the design and construction process ensured that the project would be successful in bringing this particular dream home to fruition.

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