Willard Beach House
This modest, cobbled together 1800’s cottage on Willard Beach was gutted and fit-out in a finely crafted manner with a comprehensive systems upgrade and successful LEED certification. Collaborating architect Frankie Elmquist (FEIARC) led initial planning and design, all FEMA, DEP, and Condominium Association related permitting and LEED for Homes coordination. Winkelman joined for exterior weather detailing and a comprehensive interior package.
Project Details
Location:
South Portland, Maine
Structural Architects:
Winkelman
Builder:
Phil Murray
Photography:
Brian Vanden Brink
Recognition
Project Requirements
The highly creative and craft-attuned clients set the tone for a refined and inventive approach to evolving the spaces. Desired traditional elements such as a Rumford-style wood burning fireplace were carefully customized with a closed air flow system and seamless glass doors to meet the strict indoor air quality and tightness standards.
Building Materials
The project utilized high-quality materials, including native walnut for the kitchen peninsula and carefully selected materials for weather detailing and interior millwork.
The Site
The site’s unique location overlooking Willard Beach and its proximity to dunes and water influenced design decisions, such as maximizing views and incorporating outdoor elements.
Design Concepts
The entry layout cleverly incorporates traditional service elements such as a mudroom, ample and accessible closets, a pass thru window to the Pantry and a convertible powder room/full bath to meet outdoor contaminant control requirements. On the exterior- deep overhanging eaves, hidden awnings, and a pergola provide needed solar control with in the New England Shingle Style tradition.
Challenges
A notable challenge was to finesse the interrelationship of the open plan’s restricted living / dining / kitchen configuration. Zoning limited substantive alterations to the envelope except for a rear garage addition.
The Results
A result was the ‘canoe’, the kitchen peninsula’s distinctive form that is crafted of curved native walnut and reflects the deliberate crafting of space. In addition, thoughtfully articulated ceilings and carefully placed lighting help reinforce spatial definition while allowing expansive and uninterrupted views to the dunes and water. The interior became a millwork tour de force. Boat fit-out / nautical analogies apply. Every inch was utilized and thoughtfully detailed, from the exterior weather tight and finely articulated detailing to the interior and its millwork package. The home earned an Energy Star Label and LEED Gold Certification under the USGBC LEED for Homes Pilot Program. A delightful lesson learned here is that a LEED Gold outcome need not ‘announce’ its achievement; instead, it can discreetly radiate its charm, quietly tucked behind the dunes.