On the site of the original family cottage, now owned by two brothers of the next generation, we merged the childhood memories held by the former home with the new and evolving stories of current family members’ lives. As children, their parents chose this spot because it was perfect for families to enjoy the beach, view the estuary and ocean, and learn how to sail. The new cottage is sensitive to site, sun patterns, context and memories of past times. The language of traditional shapes and materials are reinterpreted and applied to an assembly of smaller linked pavilions. This assembly embraces how families and their homes evolve and grow over time. The interior has a modern crispness in detail, color and material selection which serves as a calm and unassuming backdrop for a growing minimalist art collection, as well as the display of artifacts from earlier times and past generations. This cottage is nestled in a small, well established community where families have joined together for generations to celebrate each other and life on the Maine coast. Creating a language that fits in a place that feels “untouched” was paramount. As our clients describe their new home, “It isn’t just a look, it’s a character.”
