Project Description
Three virtually identical cabins form a single 628-square-foot seasonal
residence on the island of Vinalhaven in Maine’s Penobscot Bay. Located
on the site of a former granite quarry, the minimalist wood
cabins—connected by a stepped deck—sit lightly on the land, with the
largest structure housing shared living and kitchen spaces, and the
other two providing single bedrooms and baths.
Floors, walls,
and roofs are constructed of cross-laminated timber milled from black
spruce and pre-cut to size. This system minimized work on the fragile
site, as pieces easily could be assembled in place.
The
minimalist expression extends to the interiors, which are painted white
and sparsely furnished to help direct attention to the exterior. The
three buildings have glazed corners that maximize both views from and
privacy between each structure. The retreat’s intimate composition
provides a bit of urbanity within a landscape whose natural beauty
warrants enormous respect and inspires careful contemplation, the same
balance that drew Henry David Thoreau to the Maine woods more than a
century and a half ago. — Edward Keegan