description
Perhaps more than anything else, Maine is renowned for its rocky shores and hundreds of remote islands which pepper its coastline from Portland’s Casco Bay up to the Bay of Fundy in Canada. The intersection of upland ecosystems and rich coastal waters have supported thriving ocean-based cultures for hundreds of generations, and continues to act as a place for quiet reflection, solitude, or familial connection for Mainers and tourists alike.
Swans Island is a gem of mid-coast Maine, sitting just a handful of miles off of the coast, and is exceptionally quiet in comparison to the nearby Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park. Our client, a playwright, wished to transform his small plot of land on Swans Island into an off-grid retreat where he could work in peace without distraction from the hustle-and-bustle of everyday life. We saw this as an opportunity to exercise restraint, focusing on the creation of simplified, clean, and comfortable forms which encourage connection to the surrounding wooded landscape. A primary living volume, consisting of sleeping quarters, a small kitchen, and a living area, is oriented toward the southeast via generous sliding glass doors and a covered porch. To the north, an outdoor shower and composting toilet are protected by dense forest while maintaining connection to the primary volume by a covered deck.
The modest amount of electricity needed for lighting is provided by a small solar array mounted onto the south-facing roof. Water is sourced from an on-site, hand-pumped well, and the composting toilet omits the need for a septic system. As a whole, these strategies embed a strong layer of resilience to the project, and allow for a simplified and elemental backdrop for the client’s creative work.
insights
Spatial Programming
Conceptually, the project can be broken down into two primary nodes of activity. The living volume is home to living, dining, kitchen, and sleeping quarters as well as direct connection to outdoor gathering space. Whether cozied-up by the woodstove, reading in bed, or enjoying birdsong on the deck, a direct relationship to the surroundings is always present and oriented toward the most desirable parts of the site. Tucked away behind the living volume, out of view from the public, sit the outdoor rinsing station, composting toilet, and sink - all covered by a generous roof plane to keep the elements at bay. By pulling these features outside and connecting them to the living quarters by a deck, circulation is eased and further privacy is achieved.
Site Features
The precise location of a building on its site is one of the most critical elements to investigate, long before detailed design takes place. When executed properly, the dwelling experience is elevated and feels “right,” in addition to allowing for improved passive efficiency and reduced site impact. This particular parcel is primarily identified by a primary ridge which runs north-south through the site, terminating at the road below. A secondary knoll sits in the northeast corner of the site, to form a gentle drainage saddle.The cabin was sited at the brow of this ridge, oriented to the south east and the gentle morning sun filtering through the surrounding trees. This siting ensures the building has ideal solar access and views while all of the rainwater will naturally drain away.
Prefabrication
Given the remote site, this cabin was well suited to a prefabricated panelized construction process wherein builders could assemble the building’s shell off-site. In addition to improving access to equipment, local resources, and convenience for the build team, this also drastically reduced the total amount of unwanted impact to the site and kept the on-site work relatively nimble and analog. In the end, heavy machinery was used very sparingly throughout the project, and only at a couple of key points: pouring the foundation piers and delivering the panels.
Builder: Riverside Landscaping LLC
Prefabrication: Ware-Butler Building Supply
Perhaps more than anything else, Maine is renowned for its rocky shores and hundreds of remote islands which pepper its coastline from Portland’s Casco Bay up to the Bay of Fundy in Canada. The intersection of upland ecosystems and rich coastal waters have supported thriving ocean-based cultures for hundreds of generations, and continues to act as a place for quiet reflection, solitude, or familial connection for Mainers and tourists alike.
Swans Island is a gem of mid-coast Maine, sitting just a handful of miles off of the coast, and is exceptionally quiet in comparison to the nearby Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park. Our client, a playwright, wished to transform his small plot of land on Swans Island into an off-grid retreat where he could work in peace without distraction from the hustle-and-bustle of everyday life. We saw this as an opportunity to exercise restraint, focusing on the creation of simplified, clean, and comfortable forms which encourage connection to the surrounding wooded landscape. A primary living volume, consisting of sleeping quarters, a small kitchen, and a living area, is oriented toward the southeast via generous sliding glass doors and a covered porch. To the north, an outdoor shower and composting toilet are protected by dense forest while maintaining connection to the primary volume by a covered deck.
The modest amount of electricity needed for lighting is provided by a small solar array mounted onto the south-facing roof. Water is sourced from an on-site, hand-pumped well, and the composting toilet omits the need for a septic system. As a whole, these strategies embed a strong layer of resilience to the project, and allow for a simplified and elemental backdrop for the client’s creative work.