Location: North Haven
Designer, Timber Framer & SIPs: Rockport Post & Beam
General Contractor: Cooper Construction
Construction start: Fall 2016

Sitting on a granite outcropping, this site looks out over the Fox Islands Thoroughfare and its constant flow of boat traffic. The new home keeps within the footprint of a prior family retreat, which was full of sentimental touches such as wallpaper hand painted by prior generations but which had fallen into a state of disrepair. Rebuilding meant parting with the past in order to embrace the future memories to be made. A Douglas fir timber frame provides the home’s structure as well as a sense of warmth and character throughout. Structural insulated panels (SIPs) wrap the frame and create a tight, energy-efficient, and comfortable envelope. Ample glazing allows the ocean breeze to flow through and extends the views into the living space.

With an emphasis on family and bringing people together, this home achieves a balance between privacy and communal space. Four suites provide individual havens, while the main living area remains open and welcoming. The great room features southerly views of the ocean, as do the east- and west-facing porches. A wraparound porch on the second floor connects the suites and also provides a spectacular 270-degree ocean experience. The shimmer of water can be seen from almost any spot in the house, from the walkout basement to the second floor, and even in the rare spot where the ocean is not visible, its salt air is inescapable.