Keen Ave. House

Keen Ave House

Context + Design                                   

This project is a complete re-construction and new addition of an 18^th century existing cape in Kittery Point, Maine. Overlooking Pepperrell Cove, the project sits at the end of a major promontory. The reconstructed portion of the house includes most all of the primary living spaces and the master bedroom. The major addition adds separate workspaces for the owners, a writer and artist, a sunroom/greenhouse, guest bedrooms and a separate garage & studio above.

In researching the history of the existing cape, old photographs showed the evolution of the building from an 18^th century homestead, to a sea captain’s house, to a more extensive shingle style residence. Like a “patchwork quilt” assembled out of fragments of discarded cloth, the new home repurposed the salvaged old pieces to create an entirely new whole that honors and celebrates the parts from which it was constructed. The original timber structure was salvaged, reconstructed, and revealed. Siding, floor boards, doors, and original hardware salvaged from the old home found new uses in the interior along side new finishes – plaster walls, soapstone countertops, polished concrete, Black Walnut cabinetry and casework.

The design of the new addition echoes the unpretentious sensibility that has characterized New England architecture since colonial times with a modern construction vocabulary of simple volumes and unadorned materials. Major windows face south, admitting light deep into the building interiors even during long northern winters. Zinc clad light monitors along the opposite elevation admit indirect north light, with operable windows to help pull breezes off the water and up through the building, and provide support for a large array of solar thermal collectors.

Sustainability

The project was designed to maximize winter passive solar gain. Along with a highly insulated, air tight envelope, the solar thermal collectors capture enough solar energy stored in a series of basement tanks, to provide approximately 85% of the heating demand and 100% of the hot water needs of the owners. All interior materials and finishes were selected for low environmental impact. All walls and ceilings were finished with natural plaster, wood floors were sealed with a natural wax based sealer. To support the productivity of the large garden on the property, rainwater recovery tanks were connected to the rainwater system and two root cellars were incorporated in the basement. The green roof on the addition assists with stormwater management.