Points of View

site conditions: A congested, idiosyncratic water front site with marginal and poorly fitted existing structures and a road in its' foreground, including a series of overlaid zoning and shoreland restrictions with promising east, south and west fresh and salt water views and southerly exposure.

client program: The clients, with grown children and grandchildren sought a two-part program; a living, dining, kitchen, den and master suite zoned distinctly separate from a guest quarters of 2 bedrooms, bath and studio / recreation overflow space.

design response: The solution is a highly tailored fit of their program to this site. The two-part program created the opportunity to break up the mass of a 3,500 sf program to better integrate to its' island context. Its' stairwell, which is just behind the forward living / dining / master suite zone, weaves together the split level rear zone, integrating access from the lowest level garage and a central mudroom. This stairwell, a source for daylight into the center of the house, is transparent, visually linking the rear and forward zones and the upper living deck.