Treetops

The owners, a young professional couple, wanted a permanent Maine base that would support their dual lives: a quiet place to work and a practical base for a life spent outdoors. Having found a lot on a quiet cul-de-sac with private access to the water via a wooded path, they envisioned a home that felt like a secluded sanctuary, one that could house their extensive collection of kayaks, paddle boards, bicycles, and Harley-Davidson while providing a multi-generational home grounded in the landscape.

The site slopes downward from the south-facing entry toward the dense, private woods to the north. The challenge was to accommodate a full program, work with the grade change, and settle the home into the hillside. The main living spaces needed to rise to catch views of the ocean to the southeast and the forest canopy to the north, while the active and guest zones were grounded in the slope.

A T-shaped plan organized around a central circulation spine responds to the site's level changes, with half-flight stairs creating distinct destinations at every level. The entry sequence begins at a sheltered porch of natural Douglas fir and ipe, which extends into a pass-through connecting the residence to the three-car gear garage. One wing of the T-shaped plan is dedicated to hospitality, featuring two private guest suites designed for elder parents and friends, one at the entry level and another at the middle level.

The lower levels house the home's active program. At the lowest level, the slope allowed for a high-ceilinged volume for an indoor golf simulator, while the level above houses a dedicated gym. Here, biparting doors retract to open the space to the wooded side of the home, extending the gym out onto a covered patio—a sheltered place to train outdoors. After a workout in the gym, on a bike, or on the water, the lower level provides direct access to a secluded hot tub nestled among the trees.

At the heart of the home, a sculptural metal staircase with warm oak treads and open risers allows natural light to spill through the levels, keeping the stair well lit as it rises past the mid-level home office and primary suite. The upper level holds the open-plan kitchen, living, and dining areas, lifted high into the canopy and complemented by deep balconies and a screened porch that project directly into the trees. A bi-folding window extends the kitchen into the screened porch.

By concentrating the active program within the hillside and the social program within the canopy, the architecture functions as a vertical ecosystem. The owners live in the treetops, sharing the sky with local nesting bald eagles in a home that adapts to their work, their athletic lives, and their guests.

‍
Photography: Trent Bell Photography
‍

Collaborators:

Contractor: Bowley Builders‍

Structural Engineer: Albert Putnam Associates

Landscape Architect: Callahan + Le Bleu

Landscape installation: Callahan + Le Bleu

Interior Design: Whitten Architects/ Owners

Millwork: Derek Preble

Lighting Design: Reflex Charron