Maine’s architectural landscape is as diverse as its natural beauty, blending coastal charm with modern innovation. From sustainable homes nestled in the wilderness to cutting-edge public spaces redefining urban design, the state’s newest structures showcase a unique fusion of tradition and forward-thinking creativity. In our annual architecture listing, we highlight some of the most inspiring projects that are shaping Maine’s built environment today.

RESIDENTIAL

Saco River Residence

The client requested a modern, energy-efficient home with a strong connection to the sloping site. From the street, the home appears small and modest for its location, with a glass entry creating a clear focal point within an otherwise private exterior. Upon entry, the house opens to a connected kitchen, dining, and living room designed for entertaining, with expansive views of the fields below and the Saco River beyond.

The main level was designed for aging in place with a primary bedroom suite, main living spaces, and an office, mudroom, and laundry room. The three main volumes (living room, dining room, and primary bedroom) step from southwest to northwest in plan and section, defining separation of space and providing increased views up and down the river with natural daylight. The lower level includes two additional bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a theater/family room that opens to a covered patio and firepit area.

Aesthetics and comfort were equally important considerations for the home. A high-performance building envelope with double stud walls, smart tapes and membranes, and triple-glazed windows minimizes heating demand. At the same time, electric heat pumps and mechanical ventilation were selected for efficiency.

Architect: BRIBURN
Builder: Big Country Built
Mechanical Engineer: BuildingWorks
Structural Engineer: Thornton Tomasetti
Photographer: François Gagné
Location: Saco
Completed: 2024

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House at Town’s Edge

Built on an existing foundation, this house bridges two site conditions. The center of town is a five-minute walk from the front door; stroll out the back door, however, and you’re in the Maine woods. A rift of granite blocks defines the exterior spaces, which include parking, entry, and a back patio. The stone silhouette continues through the house, where the blocks demarcate a woodstove alcove at the end of the living space. The landscaping and interior details are drawn from the owners’ love of Maine’s granite quarries.

Two gabled forms emerge from a lower flat-roofed structure. The first contains a central cathedral space composed of living, dining, and cooking areas. High clerestory windows draw light in above the lower roof plane. The second gabled volume defines a woodworking shop, while a studio featuring large-scale windows that capture north-facing light is ideal for creating art. Black metal trusses, concrete floors, roasted oak accents, and a patinated metal entry door nod to an industrial aesthetic that harkens back to the urban loft the owners inhabited before moving to Maine.

The black-stained exterior of the house and the dark metal roof allow the building to recede into its wooded backdrop. A natural landscape of ferns, grasses, and native shrubs ties the house to its woodland setting, while the gable massing speaks to the scale of surrounding structures. The two halves of the structure deftly dance along the site’s edge condition, bridging the natural and manmade.

Architect: Elliott Architects
General Contractor: Jon D. Woodward & Sons
Landscape Architect: David Maynes Studio
Landscape Installation: Adams Landscaping & Construction
Lighting Designer: Greg Day Lighting
Masonry: Jesse Cameron
Structural Engineer: Thornton Tomasetti
Photographer: Sarah Elliott
Location: Downeast
Completed: 2024

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Ledge House

This interior project included a full renovation of the first floor to fit the homeowner’s needs. The project centered on creating a first floor primary suite, guest bathroom with laundry, walk-in pantry, and new kitchen space while applying Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards into the confines of an older, smaller home. ADA codes apply only to specific public spaces and not single-family residential projects; however, the clearances were an important guide throughout the renovation when considering elements like door sizes and approaches, hallways, and hardware grasping.

The home’s interior was designed with extra space and appliances in easy-to-access spots. Due to the homeowner’s limited mobility, the dishwasher was placed on the right side of the sink for ease of loading. The kitchen’s limited upper cabinets avoid hard-to-reach spaces, and a custom dog nook with a water-filling station is situated below counter height to make it easy for the homeowner to refill.

Residential code does not require ADA-compliant 12-inch door clearances on the push side and 18 inches on the pull side of door latches, but these clearances were applied in the home for easy navigation into and out of rooms. A five-foot diameter turning radius was applied to the kitchens, bathrooms, and large walk-in closet. While most homeowners would consider this a loss of space, it was desired for this project and prioritized within the home’s small existing footprint.

Architect: gaf ARCHITECTURE
Builder: Oceanside Property Management & Construction
Interior Designer: Clara Brown
Cabinetry: TPK Cabinetry
Photographer: Heidi Kirn
Location: Cumberland Foreside
Completed: 2024

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Cape Haven

Designed, managed, built, photographed, styled, and landscaped by and for women, this Craftsman-style home in Cape Elizabeth combines clean, open interior spaces, universal design, and energy-efficient strategies. Juniper thoughtfully considered the clients’ requests, which included space for woodworking and crafts, the option for aging in place, ample views of the adjoining woods, an elevator, and a sensitive relationship to the property’s striking natural ledge.

Craftsman design cues inside and out include custom millwork on the trim, a hand crafted energy-efficient front door with stained glass windows, and an arts and crafts style tile fireplace. Outdoor spaces include a second-floor deck overlooking the ledge and garden and a sitting area with an outdoor firepit accessible from the kitchen.

A complete package of energy-saving and carbon-reducing strategies make the home exceptionally
efficient. Thermally decoupled wall construction was achieved by a double stud wall assembly. An innovative foundation was built using a shallow, frost-protected, floating wood slab that dramatically reduces the use of carbon-embodied concrete. Triple-pane windows and dense-packed cellulose insulation in the walls and roof add to the efficiency of the home. All-electric and prewired for EV chargers, the residence is net-zero ready with conduit run to the roof for a photovoltaic system.

Architect & Builder: Juniper Design + Build
Interior Designer: TLDesign Studio
Civil Engineer: Sevee & Maher Engineers
Mechanical Engineer: BuildingWorks
Structural Engineer: Dovetail Consulting
Landscape Architect: Charlotte Maloney
Landscape Installation: Native Landscape Design
Photographer: Liz Daly
Location: Cape Elizabeth
Completed: 2024

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Storybook Tower

Storybook begins a new chapter of lakeside living with the practical and purposeful volumes needed for a comfortable stay. Each level of the home accesses one of a trio of stacked balconies overlooking the lake. Projecting off the home on turned cedar timber supports, the elevated outdoor spaces live like a treehouse perched among the old-growth maples. An exterior rope bridge extends from the second-level hallway to a nearby raised play-deck where residents can escape down the spiral slide, invite friends to ascend the rope ladder, or torpedo some tubers from the deck-mounted potato gun.

The founder of a nonprofit children’s literacy initiative, one family member’s love of storybooks inspired many of the project’s novel details and necessitated a clever storage solution. Her collection reaches new heights in a bookcase spanning all three stories of the home, accessed by an interior staircase that climbs upward around it. Another curved bookcase extends along the entirety of the lower-level living room; a tug in just the right spot and a portion of the case swings outward, revealing a hidden entry to the primary bedroom suite.

The house was constructed using a Passive House–compliant prefabricated enclosure system. The structure’s floors and walls were produced and weatherproofed offsite, then transported to and assembled on the foundation. Copper shingle-clad bump-outs contrast with matte fiber cement on the rest of the building. A rooftop photovoltaic array powers the home and allows it to function off-grid as necessary using a battery backup.

Architect: Kaplan Thompson Architects
Builder & General Contractor: Maine Passive House
Structural Engineer: Thornton Tomasetti
Exterior Timber: Hanson Woodturning
Millwork: Wentworth Woodworking
Photographer: Irvin Serrano
Location: Casco
Completed: 2023

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Juniper

Fueled by a commitment to the state’s future and a passion for preserving its natural beauty and resources, Knickerbocker Group set out to design and build prefab living spaces ready for any Maine landscape. Juniper, the 500-square-foot model, embodies an art-infused design maximizing light, space, and connection to nature. Available in both a modern (shown) and traditional design, the accessory dwelling unit accounts for comfortable and contemporary living with an open kitchen, living, and dining area; full bathroom with linen storage; combination heat pump washer and dryer; kitchen with full-size appliances; private bedroom with hanging and drawer storage; work-from-home office area; and optional outdoor living spaces.

This all-electric home features dense-pack cellulose insulation, engineered white oak flooring, and locally crafted custom cabinetry. Smart built-in storage solutions enhance space efficiency, making Juniper excel at small-space living. These design elements provide the comforts and conveniences of a larger home while economizing space to maintain overall cost efficiency. The usage of natural materials and expansive triple-pane windows and doors seamlessly brings the outdoors in and embraces biophilic design principles.

Each Prefab Pod is built in the firm’s instate prefabrication facility and requires minimal onsite finishing work, which cuts delivery times to one-third of traditional construction and offers cost savings through easy customization and bulk purchasing. By emphasizing sustainability and a streamlined building process, Juniper offers a refined housing alternative, making it an ideal option for those committed to healthy living.

Architect, Builder, Interior Designer & Landscape Architect: Knickerbocker Group
Photographer: Jeff Roberts
Location: Boothbay
Completed: 2023

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Home on Binnacle Hill

The clients, both newly retired with a lifelong desire to return to Maine, knew they wanted a home that celebrates the landscape while strategically maximizing privacy. A peaceful, wooded lot nestled at the end of a cul-de-sac in Kennebunkport was the ideal backdrop for their next chapter.

The home embodies the familiar New England feeling of cozy and classic living. A first-floor en suite is tucked away in a sun-filled corner while windows serve as picture frames, revealing new compositions with the changing seasons. Expansive French doors connect the main house to a mahogany screened porch, and warm oak and natural stone act as a continuation of the exterior language.

Meticulously crafted casework from Derek Preble Cabinetmakers is found in virtually every room, capitalizing storage opportunities. While the home fits into a classic design aesthetic, it reimagines ideas typically found in contemporary architecture, specifically the concept of a “glass box.” Through purposeful glazing on three sides, the dining room pushes toward the forest. Even the pantry and laundry room, often overlooked spaces, incorporate natural light and high-end craftsmanship.

Architect & Interior Designer: Mobile Studio Design
Project Architects: Leah Schaffer & Jessica Jolin
Builder: Bowley Builders
Structural Engineer: Intelligent Design Engineering
Casework: Derek Preble Cabinetmakers
Landscape Design & Installation: Blackrock Farm
Select Furnishings: Chilton
Photographer: Rachel Sieben
Location: Kennebunkport
Completed: 2023

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Meadow Cove

Whitten Architects was initially tasked with designing two separate homes on a coastal property. As the project developed, the brief evolved into a unique design for a single, full-time residence that would harmoniously accommodate three generations of a family seeking a unified lifestyle. Midcoast Maine’s rugged coastlines, charming villages, tidal rivers, and maritime heritage inspired the unique intergenerational home’s design. Crisp, monolithic white gables are softened by natural wood soffits and details. The standing-seam metal roof unifies the gables, while the glazed link connects shared and private spaces.

Upon arrival, the glazed central entry offers instant views of the water beyond. The communal living room lies to the right; to the left, private wings are separated by a shared mudroom/laundry alongside a sculptural oak staircase that leads upstairs to the youngest kids’ bedrooms, a private living room, and an office. Both primary suites extend toward the water at ground level. Separated by a three-sided courtyard, each room enjoys private, framed views of the surrounding landscape. The single-story grandparents’ wing accommodates an office, private sitting room, and painting studio bathed in northern light.

Strategically positioned for equitable access and stunning views running parallel to the water, the communal living space serves as an open-plan, central hub. The spacious kitchen fosters a shared love for collaborative cooking, with multiple sinks, ample work surfaces, and a walk-in pantry. The south-facing stone terrace provides outdoor gathering space alongside a screened porch on the westerly end with a woodstove that provides a cozy retreat for afternoon sunsets and enhances connections from inside to out.

Capitalizing on the site’s natural features, the house maintains shoreland setbacks, respects the existing meadow, and maximizes views of the field and cove.

Architect: Whitten Architects
Project Team: Jesse Patkus and Matt Holland, designers; Roo Collins, architect; Jessie Carroll, associate principal; Russ Tyson, principal
Builder: Bowley Builders
Structural Engineer: Albert Putnam Associates
Cabinetry: Block Brothers Custom Cabinets
Landscape Architect: Richardson & Associates
Landscape Installation: Terrapin Landscapes
Stairs: King & Company
Photographer: Trent Bell
Location: Midcoast
Completed: 2022

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Nestled in Belgrade

On this steep, sloping, and rocky site along a pond in the Belgrade Lakes region, the challenge was to create a contemporary year-round home that connects to the woods and water while working with the slope of the site rather than fighting against it.

Strewn across the site are massive boulders, remnants of receding glaciers from thousands of years ago that are now covered with moss and ferns. Instead of blasting them into pieces and hauling them away, the home was situated to nest among them.

The inverted floor plan features a main entry on the second floor and the primary living spaces on the lower level. These spaces are pushed forward toward the lake so that they sit low on the ground. They thus flow outside in a single step with lake views under the canopy of large pine trees. A tall, glazed stairwell links the two levels together and floods daylight into the rear spaces nested into the hillside. To further blur the distinction between the home and its topography, all the lower roofs are planted and extend back into the hillside so that the house appears to be emerging from the landscape rather than piled on top of it.

Architect: Winkelman Architecture
Principal Architect: Eric Sokol
Builder: LP Homes
Structural Engineer: Albert Putnam Associates
Cabinetry: Linekin Bay Woodworkers
Steel Fabrication: LMC Light Iron
Photographer: Jeff Roberts
Location: Belgrade
Completed: 2022

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Artist’s House

Positioned on a popular walking trail along the water’s edge that connects Rockland’s South End with its vibrant downtown arts district, the home’s black exterior forms complement the decaying industrial surrounding relics of the limestone industry. The interior of the residence was modeled after a museum, maximizing both the daylight and the walls of art. The entry to the house is a gallery with concrete floors. Large windows make the artwork visible to people as they walk through the neighborhood. Local whitened pine floors carry through the home with a simple recessed aluminum baseboard detail.

Created for a woman in her 80s, the house was crafted with special consideration of low-maintenance materials. The major spaces of the home are located on one level for a luxurious aging-in-place experience. The studio/gallery and two-car garage on the lower level are accessible from the lower portion of the site. The main bedroom suite features a flush-shower, universal height wall-mounted toilet, wide doorways, and a porch off the bedroom for convenient access to the outdoors and fresh ocean air.

An additional sunporch is composed of glass combination windows that can be easily converted from within to screen windows, creating a cozy exterior space connecting to the kitchen. The lower-level studio is a flexible space where the owner can create, display, and sell her artwork. A separate exterior door and deck welcomes patrons and community members alike into the studio space. A conditioned art storage room completes the studio suite.

Architect: ZEL
Project Architect: Zel BowmanLaberge
Builder: The Potter Building Company
Kitchen Designer: Starlight Kitchen & Bath
Photographer: Sarah Szwajkos
Location: Rockland
Completed: 2022

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COMMERCIAL

Kevin Browne Architecture Office

Kevin Browne Architecture’s new, nearly 3,000-square-foot working office is double the size of their previous space. Located in a brand-new building that is helping to change the Falmouth skyline, the office provides plenty of space for staff to spread out, with an increase in natural daylight that has done wonders to energize the team throughout the day. The space is intentionally left very open, with low partition walls dividing eight different workspaces. One closed-off office features a glass wall that lets light filter through into the open workspace.

The office boasts two conference rooms, one with an incredible view down Route 1 in Falmouth and the other smaller and more private. This dual setup has been useful for multiple meetings happening at the same time while doubling as a quiet Zoom space or a place to take more private phone calls. Additionally, features that the previous office lacked include a lounge area with a kitchenette and an outdoor deck that provides a comfortable place to meet or have lunch.

Architect & Interior Designer: Kevin Browne Architecture
Builder: Penobscot Company, Ben Roberts Construction
Photographer: Jeff Roberts
Location: Falmouth
Completed: 2022

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Lucky Cheetah

The interior renovation of the existing Old Port Tavern into a new restaurant, lounge, and event space focused on fine food and drink. Located in the landmarked Mariner’s Church building, the project faced operations and code compliance challenges. The existing space had an occupancy count that would not be permissible today, so deliberate design direction was taken to achieve compliant occupancy numbers based on the existing exiting conditions. Similarly, the existing restroom facilities, if built new today, would not comply with current codes and laws.

Owners Jared Dinsmore and Wills Dowd, who also own Bird & Co. in Woodfords Corner, had a vision for the iconic space and enlisted the talents of Susie Smith Coughlin Interior Design and MJM+A Architects to bring that vision to life. Coughlin’s masterful composition of visual elements within the restaurant provide an incredible blend of color, texture, and pattern. The new restaurant is both cozy and elegant, roomy and intimate, and it is positioned to be a destination and staple in downtown Portland.

Architect: MJM+A Architects
Interior Designer: Susie Smith Coughlin Interior Design
Photographer: Anthony Di Biase
Location: Portland
Completed: 2024

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Night Moves Bread

Night Moves Bread was designed and built in tandem with Lambs, the bakery and bar both moving into neighboring sides of a recently vacated auto mechanic’s shop. The journey to the space was a long one, but now that Night Moves has been up and running in its new location for just over a year, it’s clear that this spot by the water was worth the wait.

The full gut interior renovation worked within the existing building’s footprint and volume to achieve some lofty goals. The design aimed to improve building performance and find flow within the tight, 1,400-square-foot space while also creating connection to the outside and immediately adjacent water. Visitors enter through a custom-built mahogany storefront system and are greeted by a long, monolithic bar with soft rounded edges. Customers line up here to order coffee, baked goods, bread, and soft serve, often spilling out onto the original loading ramp. The room closest to the water was converted into the main bakery space, where tall ceilings and two new banks of glider windows help the room feel larger than it is and give the bakers the unique experience of a working kitchen flooded with natural light and views.

Through a new full-light garage door at the side bay of the building, visitors can glimpse the huge 8- by 12-foot oven, which necessitated a room of its own. A long, narrow walk-in cooler slid into an adjacent courtyard space provides ample storage for dough and ingredients, while a service kitchen is tucked discreetly behind the coffee bar. It was a task to fit the project program into the compact building, but in a fine orchestration of rolling racks the space buzzes with the warmth of freshly baked bread and community.

Architect: Leslie Benson Designs
Builder: Jimmy Rodney
Engineer: Structural Integrity Consulting Engineers
Photographer: Myriam Babin Photography
Location: South Portland
Completed: 2023

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Rough & Tumble Flagship

Local handbag company Rough and Tumble secured arguably one of the most coveted retail spaces in Portland’s vibrant Old Port. Extensive work had been done throughout the building, so the project started with a blank slate that allowed LR/ARC to create a unique flagship space that showcases Rough and Tumble’s vision and craftsmanship along with the product’s rugged beauty.

Two walls of the space feature nearly floor-to-ceiling windows that maximize natural daylight and visibility both into the space and out to the bustling street. This did, however, present a challenge when trying to minimize all the necessary mechanical equipment, including fire suppression systems, that needed to be at the ceiling plane. Instead of dropping the ceiling below the windows, the architect worked closely with the building owner and contractor to creatively hide what they could and maintain a minimalist aesthetic for what was visible. The walls of the storage room, location of niches, and introduction of the soffit above the register all work to hide mechanical and electrical equipment and structural columns.

LR/ARC partnered with Grace Rote at Light and Form Studio to specify and lay out the store’s lighting to provide an ambiance tailored to Rough and Tumble’s aesthetic. The selected lighting system allows the track heads to be easily removed and rearranged based on a new showpiece or event—no electrician is needed. This flexibility is valuable to the brand and maximizes the potential of the retail space with an inviting atmosphere that enriches not only the neighborhood but the human experience when inside the space.

Architect: LR/ARC
Builder: Consigli Construction
Building Owner & Developer: East Brown Cow
Lighting Designer: Light + Form Studio
Photographer: Erin Little
Location: Portland
Completed: 2024