Beachhead can signify high ground, a commanding view, and a state of mind. This home sits atop a coastal ledge with adjacent access to the shore and a commanding view of the Atlantic. Connections from inside the house to the exterior, both physical and visual, were carefully considered. The complexity of the space warranted sketches by the firm’s principal, Rob Whitten, as the best way to illustrate and communicate the connections between the indoor living spaces and the surrounding landscape. 

Whitten Architects uses sketches, either on paper or on screen, as a communication tool early in the design process. They still find value in hand drawing and use sketches early and often to help clients understand the architecture. Sometimes they like to show a sketch from the outside, looking back at the house, to capture the full design, and sometimes they sketch a view from inside, looking out through a detail of the home. 

This sketch is not intended to represent an accurate physical depiction of the stair and living space but rather to show the relationships of all the spaces off the stair, from both the interior and exterior. The stair is the hinge of this house, creating access to the bedroom wing, a half story above, and a half story below, separating the public areas from the private. The stair also connects to the home’s exterior physically at the top of the landing where there is a deck, visually through the expansive windows in the stairwell, and physically again at grade, leading outside to a path down to the shore. In this sketch, Whitten Architects emphasizes the connection between inside and outside by highlighting the views beyond the openings.  

Location: Coastal Maine
Architect: Whitten Architects  
Collaborators: Richardson & Associates, Albert Putnam Associates, Heidi Lachapelle Interiors, Bowley Builders 
Construction Start: Fall 2021 
Construction Complete: Summer 2023