Maine House

The Maine House serves as the primary residence for a young family, situated within the former estate of Brooke Astor. Carefully sited to preserve the integrity of the surrounding forest, the house minimizes its footprint by dispersing its program into a series of interconnected volumes, all unified beneath a dynamic, folding roofscape.

The architecture negotiates the natural topography through sectional layering. The main living spaces occupy the primary level, opening to the landscape and sea views through expansive glazing. The living spaces build a connection to outdoors by creating a courtyard that is accessible from the kitchen, living, dining, and screened-in-porch. Above, the primary suite is conceived as a treehouse — elevated and immersed within the canopy — offering a sense of retreat and privacy. In contrast, the secondary bedrooms and family room are embedded into the slope, using the earth for thermal stability and spatial intimacy.

Material expression reinforces this gradient condition. The upper volumes are clad in dark-stained cedar shiplap, dark steel, and locally sourced granite — materials that anchor the structure within its wooded context while lending a sense of weight and permanence. Below, the lower level is rendered in a white-on-white palette, amplifying available light and creating a softer, more diffused interior atmosphere.

Inside, double-height spaces and carefully framed views reinforce a continuous dialogue between interior and exterior. Exposed structural elements, warm wood surfaces, and textured stone surfaces are juxtaposed with refined detailing and contemporary fixtures. The result is a house that balances solidity and lightness that is simultaneously grounded in the landscape and open to it — offering a nuanced living environment attuned to both family life and the rhythms of the surrounding forest and adjacent sea.