After living in Scarborough for over 25 years and sending their third child off to college, these homeowners were looking to downsize from their large family home to a space more economical for two people. Not wanting to leave Scarborough, the couple found a small house for sale near ferry beach. The existing house consisted of an original camp built in 1952, and a two-story addition built in the 1970’s. Both structures were in need of substantial renovation in order to become livable.The proximity to the water, however, presented an issue not unfamiliar to many coastal properties.
If the house was to be renovated, the new plan would need to match the existing footprint and it would need to be raised onto piers. Working within these constraints, the architecture team shaped a design to fit the needs and wishes of the owners while working with the governing town and federal bodies to conform to all applicable codes.
The completed house contains three bedrooms, including a master suite with deck, an open-concept kitchen/dining/living room containing a large stone fireplace at one end, a more secluded sitting room that can double as sleeping space if needed, as well as a home office. This home, while modest in size, allows room for entertaining and overnight guests, which was important to the owners.
While the footprint of this home was predetermined, the form took its shape through careful study. The design team wanted to accentuate the beauty of the site and its surroundings by keeping this structure simple. To achieve this, the team created a solid form, subtracted volume from certain areas, and used materials befitting its New England locality. Large windows give expansive views of the ocean to the east and Scarborough Marsh to the west.
