Originally built in 1849, this home in Castine, Maine, consists of a main house, a barn, and an ell connecting the two. Because it’s located in a historic district, any portion of it that can be seen from the road must retain its historic character. With this constraint guiding the process, the homeowners proceeded with a major renovation. The barn and ell were gutted, although the structural framework was salvaged and reinforced where necessary. The kitchen was moved to the barn and connected through a large opening in the ceiling to a new gallery space above. Street-side openings in the barn were filled with steel-framed glass panels that are revealed only when the sliding wood doors are opened. On the back side of the house, two large bump-outs reinterpret the traditional bay window, allowing the interiors to engage the terrace and gardens outside. The interiors are clean and modern, distilling the historic details and materials of the old into elemental form. The result is a 21st-century renovation that quietly integrates with the old without sacrificing its integrity.
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Street view of main house, ell, and barn. Though we were unable to materially change this elevation, we were able to make some subtle changes including inserting glass panels behind sliding wood doors and low-profile skylights.
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On the rear elevation we had more license and updated the traditional bay window precedent with a contemporary alternative, opening the house up to the terrace and gardens.
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In the dining room, a new bay window replaces an older version, tying into the language established in the ell and barn.
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The new kitchen is open to the gallery above and light is drawn into the space from the skylights in the roof.
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Existing rear elevation and kitchen interior. The kitchen was crammed into the ell and part of the barn and closed off from the terrace and gardens outside.
