this modest 2,400 SF house has a wonderful sense of openness. The back of the house

literally disappears, bringing the feeling of the outdoors into the central living space.

The bedrooms, playroom loft, bathrooms, kitchen, laundry and closets are tightly organized

on the three levels of the 24 x 26 core house. The bathrooms and laundry are grouped on the front

of the house with small windows for privacy. The bedrooms are on the back, with large windows

looking out to the woods. The living, dining, and music areas are more loosely organized in one large,

open space that flows directly to cedar decks on the front and back, creating a strong relationship

between the inside and outside. Outdoor garden spaces, their edges defined by pine trees, wild blueberry

bushes, and beech trees become natural extensions of the interior living spaces.

The owner s love of wood is expressed throughout the house. A wide variety of woods were used,

both in the structure and finish details of the house. Natural clear finishes are combined with

unusual stained finishes. Structural members are exposed where appropriate and pine columns

are used as end caps for partitions. The simple structure combined with simple detailing

allowed the house to be built for under $100 per square foot.

Partners:

Structural: Structural Design Consulting, Inc.

Landscape: Scott Simons

Contractor: Mark M. Dorsey, Inc.

1999 MAIA Award for Excellence in Architecture