fb-pixelA river runs through it - The Boston Globe Skip to main content
Home design

A river runs through it

Brian Vanden Brink/Professional Photographer / Videographer

Located on a sparsely populated island at the mouth of Maine’s Kennebec River, this house fits well in its pristine natural setting. Built on the footprint of a deteriorating 1940s Cape-style house, it was designed by Steven Theodore, principal of Theodore + Theodore Architects.

“We were only permitted to exceed the square footage of the original house by 30 percent, which was somewhat of a challenge,” says Theodore. “But we like to create compact structures — to give the illusion of space without actually building it.”

The home’s remote locale meant that all materials were brought to the island by boat and landed on the beach below the house. The owners sought a contemporary inspired retreat and Theodore’s design features cube-like forms made of steel frame construction. The main structure is connected to a guesthouse through a screened porch. Decks and expansive swaths of glass ensure there are opportunities to appreciate the majestic coastal scenery at every turn.

Advertisement



In order to recede with the surrounding scrub pines and oaks, the exterior is sheathed in red cedar, stained gray with copper. Windows have moss green exterior frames that pick up the hues of the vegetation. “Materials were selected for weathering properties; they’ll all develop natural patina, which, in turn, will help them blend in more,” says Theodore.

Sustainability was also a component: The flat roof acts as a water collector and serves as a platform for solar electric panels mounted on angled frames. “The deeply rustic setting makes an intriguing contrast with the refined quality of materials,” says Theodore. “The new structure actually sits better in the landscape than the old white Cape that was there.”

Back exterior view

The main entrance to the house is through a side door on the lower level. A bridge at the second floor connects to the hill that rises behind the house. Stairs lead up to a vast roof deck. Exterior railings are made of stainless steel with an Ipe wood cap.

Brian Vanden Brink

Interior

Inside, the pairing of exposed fir beams and spruce tongue and groove decking on the ceiling has a woodsy, almost branch-like quality, says Theodore. Floors are white oak, and fir was used for the trim around the windows.

Advertisement



Brian Vanden Brink

Front exterior view

The home’s steel frame enabled parts of the structure to be cantilevered, like this deep bay. “It breaks down the mass of the building,” says architect Steven Theodore. The home is built upon the site’s impressive feldspar granite ledge.