House on Penobscot Bay

Four important concerns of the owner combined to generate the design ideas: enhancing the environment without detracting from it, taking advantage of fabulous views, incorporating transparency and reflection with a glass room to dine in, and incorporating the Japanese aesthetic and traditions of gardens and green walls.

The extraordinary ocean-side site is located on Penobscot Bay at the entrance to a harbour.  The land has a dead-on view of an island lighthouse - an observation point for boats, kayaks, lobstermen, and the islands beyond.  These views and the landscape were essential to the owner’s daily experience, as were the internal workspaces of the house. 

Built on a narrow plot with a 30-foot elevation difference, the house is divided into three floors. The ground floor opens to the land, where the living level is, and the third floor emphasises aerial views and the treetops. The glass façade emphasises horizontality in contrast to the verticality of the trees.

In addition to a narrow buildable footprint, there were strict limits on lot coverage. Both deciduous and evergreen trees shaded all orientations. Several large oaks that grew within the potential footprint were harvested and turned into planks for tables and benches.  

With such a generous amount of glass, the spaces are marked by light constantly changing throughout the day and the year. The cantilevered glass dining room appears to be a platform to observe and experience the waterside landscape and ocean tides, with a spectacular view of the trees and beyond the nearby island.