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Project posted by Amanda Cleary
Editor’s Pick

Pieri Pines

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Three primary bedrooms look out at the deck below and the lake beyond.
Three primary bedrooms look out at the deck below and the lake beyond.
Familiar materials and a new form.
Familiar materials and a new form.
The home was partially designed around a large glacial boulder.
The home was partially designed around a large glacial boulder.
The siding is local eastern white cedar stained to softly take direction from the modeled textures and colors of the trees and stones.
The siding is local eastern white cedar stained to softly take direction from the modeled textures and colors of the trees and stones.
Living Room looking out on glacial boulder, deck, and lake.
Living Room looking out on glacial boulder, deck, and lake.
The traditions of the Maine camp vernacular have been respected yet challenged and re-envisioned.
The traditions of the Maine camp vernacular have been respected yet challenged and re-envisioned.
The dining/sleep area sits half a flight up from the living room and kitchen.
The dining/sleep area sits half a flight up from the living room and kitchen.
A small sleeping/reading area looks down into the dining area.
A small sleeping/reading area looks down into the dining area.
The lakeside deck serves as an expanded living space and provides gentle access to a rear lawn
The lakeside deck serves as an expanded living space and provides gentle access to a rear lawn
The sloping site meant that the view sheds are predominantly downward; however, the roof form and second-story windows reach for sky views.
The sloping site meant that the view sheds are predominantly downward; however, the roof form and second-story windows reach for sky views.

Credits

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Architect
Builder
Bartow Construction
Photographer

From Amanda Cleary

This Pieri Pines project is about two things; a sloping landscape with glacial erratics and a young generation of family members coming together to build a place for themselves. The lakeside property slopes dramatically to one of Maine's incredible lakes. This challenging landscape required an inquisitive spirit and a belief in unseen potential. Three brothers meant three equal bedrooms, none being a primary. The communal spaces were prioritized to reinforce familial bonds.

The house's palette of materials is simple; its framing and most of its surfaces are wood. Glass and metal are the other major materials. The siding is local eastern white cedar stained to softly take direction from the modeled textures and colors of the trees and stones. The materials are familiar, but the form is new. The traditions of the Maine camp vernacular have been respected yet challenged and re-envisioned.

The house derives its form from the landscape, and the concept began in sections rather than a floor plan. In a modern-day split-level concept, the entry level is a half flight above and below the other levels. The main living and kitchen site is a half flight down from the entry, while the three bedrooms site is a half story above the entry. This allows all the entry points to have a casual and gentle relationship to the exterior grade. Parking is near the top of the site, so make your way down toward the house. The house invites you to step with the landscape and was designed around a large glacial boulder. The living room looks towards the boulder and deck while the second floor floats above it. The sloping site meant that the view sheds are predominantly downward; however, the roof form and second-story windows reach for sky views. The lakeside deck serves as an expanded living space and provides gentle access to a rear lawn before a meandering path leads you to the water. A view from the lake presents a house that both recedes while voicing an opinion; the house stands out while blending into the landscape.