House on a Pond | Elliott Architects

Located at the edge of a harsh sea environment, this collection of buildings marries the familiar
with the unexpected. Three simple cottages linked by a series of decks make up this summer
compound, which extends over a tidal salt pond. Inspired by local fishing shacks and wharf
buildings that dot the coast of Maine, this retreat weaves large glazed openings into the modest,
shingled New England cottage forms.

Access to the house is along a winding sylvan lane that provides filtered glimpses of the ocean,
foreshadowing the expansive view at the end of the journey. Upon arrival, the traditional forms
and fenestration of the cottages suggest tight, divided interiors. When entering the buildings,
however, the contrast of the old with the surprise of the new is revealed. The small punched
windows on the landward side give way to an open floor plan and the water-facing walls are cut
open in large swaths of glass exposing views to the sea beyond. Progression toward the
waterfront begins on a grounded granite outcropping and descends to the wharf cottage perched directly over the salt pond.

The interior space is a reflection of the exterior form, with a modern treatment of the traditional
massing. Stainless steel columns and tie rods alleviate the roof structure of its heavy burden,
allowing the space to expand unimpeded to the ridge. A large boulder provides a base for the
fireplace and the stainless steel–clad flue, suspended from the structure above, contributes to the lightness of the space. The interior columns transfer the load to a steel frame anchored in the pond’s granite basin, updating the wood pile wharf precedent while keeping it very much present.  The main wharf cottage contains communal living spaces: kitchen, dining, and living rooms in an open plan. A cantilevered deck that appears to float above the water connects the interior space to the environment beyond. The flanking cottages contain private sleeping quarters and frame views to the moss-covered forest. At the heart of this project, and further tying the group of buildings to each other and their site, is a sense of craft. Attention to detail and materiality, from the alignment of reveals around the windows to the incision of mahogany frames in shingled walls, allows the house to merge with the landscape without sacrificing its rigorous integrity. Though huddled together apparently against the harsh elements, the group of buildings turns its seemingly most vulnerable surfaces outward, confident in its construction and emphatically linking itself as strongly with the surrounding environment as with its own interconnected pieces.