Imagine a beautiful, wooded site looking out over Casco Bay and the islands. Imagine also that there are very restrictive setback requirements on a narrow lot, an existing cottage beyond repair, a failed septic system, and no well.

This new home occupies such a site. Lot coverage was limited to 20% for “non-vegetated” site improvements, including the building, walkways, and parking. The new cottage could be no wider than the cottage being torn down. The solution was to build up instead of out. There are three stories of living space, including a daylight basement. Site restrictions prevented the addition of a deck or terrace on the waterside. So the four waterside “doors” in the living room are designed to open outward and provide a full-width clear opening. A motorized screen lowers from the ceiling to provide insect protection. This way, the living room becomes the screened porch.

The house construction is very energy efficient. The house is insulated with dense pack cellulose and rigid foam insulation. The walls are R-28 and the ceiling is R-54. A heat recovery ventilator is coupled with a high velocity air system that provides heating, air conditioning, and the proper amount of tempered fresh air. The windows are Energy-Star rated with fiberglass frames. Due to its location on a narrow dirt road, the house has a sprinkler system for the safety of its occupants.