A Remote Island Home Accessible Only by Boat Is Immersed Into the Rugged Maine Coast
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Along the southern coast of Maine, Harbor Island is a rugged juncture of forest and sea. Blanketed with trees, the remote and largely undeveloped island overlooks alluring views of the bay and open water beyond. However, the unspoiled natural beauty comes at a cost: The isolated location is accessible only by boat—with each residential parcel needing its own dock, as there are no on-island roads. Also, because of the site’s craggy outcrop, it bears the full brunt of storms barreling up the coast, with gale-force winds and potential flooding both quietly looming threats.
The remote Harbor Island location seems a world away from the mainland. The home was sited to capture different views of water, forest, and meadow.
Respecting the wildness of the remote location, an adventurous and privacy-seeking couple found a fit in Harbor Island after searching for land for several years. The couple, now with two grown children, engaged Portland, Maine-based Woodhull to design a home for them in the secluded setting. "They love being outdoors," says David Morris, architect and director of Woodhull’s Residential Studio. "They are very resourceful and adventurous and relish in the privacy that this little island provides them."
The home’s building site is a quarter mile from the private dock, which made the logistics of hauling in construction materials painstakingly challenging—especially in harsh Maine winters.
In designing a home for the secluded site, Morris kept the form simple and unassuming—embracing contrast with the wildness of the surroundings. The home’s siting follows a radial geometry to take advantage of panoramic views. "The building geometry mimics the striated formations of the craggy ledge that was formed when the last glacial maximum retreated around 20,000 years ago," says Morris. From the lower tip of Harbor Island where the home is sited, panoramic views stretch out to the islands in Casco Bay, and back to the mainland on two sides.
The home’s large open deck "encourages people to meet in the middle," says architect David Morris of the connective design feature. Radiating outward, the deck allows a multitude of destinations: the main house, guest house, coastline and tidal pools, dock, meadows, and forest.
A large central deck is the connective tissue of the home’s design. A communal entry point leads to the expansive deck, where the home then branches out in two opposing directions, leading to the main residence and the smaller guest house. "[The deck] is an integral part of the circulation and experience," shares Morris. "This is not a deck at the rear of the house; it is literally the center of the arrangement, and you must use it to use these buildings."
"You’re not prescribed to walk onto or off of this deck in any certain location," says Morris. "You can choose your path—which may be different than the path you took yesterday, or the path you’ll take tomorrow."
The desire to maximize light and views was tempered by the need for the home to withstand unforgiving storms and natural weather events. "The challenge came in maintaining beautiful views, and access to light and air through large expanses of glass," says Morris. "This desire to keep the elements out while keeping the eyes looking outward was a dance."
The home is clad in unfinished eastern white cedar sourced from Maine, which will darken and silver over time. "Because of the weather, this will not necessarily be consistent, as some areas will see more rain or more sun than others," says Morris. "We feel that over time, this will soften the house even further into the landscape."
Because of the unique setting and climate, special consideration was given to the home’s design and structural integrity. Propped up on piers, the home allows for water to flow underneath it in the improbable—but not impossible—event that a catastrophic "500-year" storm floods the island. When it came to designing the home’s windows, Morris found himself navigating a delicate line. "We obviously wanted to take advantage of the incredible views the site offers, but we also know that windows and openings are weak points in the structure." To account for this challenge while still keeping openings as large as possible, the Woodhull team reinforced mulls between windows with larger structural members to help resist lateral and twisting loads brought on by gale-force winds.
Reinforced mulls between windows strengthen the home, allowing it to resist powerful external forces. "While we were able to achieve those outward views, the views through these windows back down to the earth were surprisingly beautiful and a real win," says Morris of the glazing strategy.
Both the main house and guest house consist of two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Inside, warm and neutral tones keep the focus on the surroundings. "The interior was kept fairly simple," says Morris. "The goal was to keep eyes viewing toward the outside." The solar-powered main house is all-electric, while the uninsulated guest house is reserved for seasonal use.
While wood finishes and paneling dominate the home’s interior, color and texture are introduced through the kitchen’s stone and tile selections.
The living room’s corner exposure intentionally highlights dramatic views of the water and forest. "The landscape becomes the art on the walls," says Morris.
The Woodhull team created a small nook for the home’s wood-burning stove. "Because we wanted the eyes to continually look outward, we didn’t want the wood stove and associated flue to detract from that," says Morris. "Having it sit inside this nook allows it to still be visible from the living room, but also provides a nice place to sit beside and read."
The all-wood seasonal guest house is void of drywall and insulation. The exterior framing was left exposed, and interior walls are constructed of birch plywood.
Between the two structures, the deck becomes an expanded living and dining area shared by both homes. "The placement and organization of the buildings were the most foundational and informative aspects of the project," shares Morris. "The organization and placement of the open deck fosters a sense of gathering between people, and allows those people to feel very connected to the land on which the building shares."
Learn more about all the 2023 honorees and the judging process at andersenawards.dwell.com.
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