Marsh Home

a multigenerational home in Maine designed to withstand a changing climate

location

Kennebunk, ME

status

Completed, 2020

client

Withheld

team

Annie Barrett
Adriel Mesznik

Structural

Silman

MEP

McSweeney

We designed this coastal home in Maine for a multigenerational family. It is located in a marsh development affectionately referred to as “Sinking Acres” by locals.

A house with an angular design, featuring cool blue horizontal siding, concrete walls, and an open glass window. Lush greenery stands in contrast to the clean vertical lines of the house

Our design responds to the site’s harsh conditions. The house is divided into public- and private-facing zones and oriented for views to the marsh and shore.

An animated GIF showing the transformations of the house's massing in response to environmental parameters such as the lot's zoning envelope, projected flood map, and surrounding natural context.

It is a place for three generations of a family to build shared memories. A concrete base anticipates future climate, protecting the structure from flood waters...

...while the wood-framed upper levels blend with surrounding homes.

A modern house with a sloped roof and large windows, partially hidden by leafless trees in a snowy landscape.

The public areas are organized around an open stair with framed views of the marsh and landscape.

An image of the geometric staircase displaying a contrast between the warm wood-clad paneling and the surrounding white walls.

A view up the stair void, showing the warm wood paneling running up the height of the stair well. Natural light pours down from the top level and washes down the polished wood surfaces.

A wooden staircase with white railings leads upward, lit by sunlight from a large open window. A geometric shadow is cast on the white wall, and greenery is visible through the window.

The private areas include spaces for each generation to find seclusion and lofted bedrooms for grandchildren to bond and make noise.

A bathroom with blue tiled wall and yellow tiled wall, featuring a geometric bathtub with contemporary showerhead and faucet fixtures. Sunlight casts a warm glow on the tiles. A young child with wet hair is sitting in the bathtub, playing with the water. Shelves in the tiled wall hold bottles of soap and shampoo. A countertop with additional toiletries is visible on the right side of the image.

Designed for relaxation and immersion in nature with family, the house is shaped by shifting light, tactile materials, and framed views.