Projects / Renovations      Waldoboro, Maine

Cardamom and Almond Water

Press

  • Green & Healthy Maine Homes
  • Dezeen

Project Team

Context

The original, gambrel-roofed home in Waldoboro, Maine was built in the 1980s and set back from the water a few hundred feet. The home needed a major update and expansion, and the owners wanted to really make it a place that reflected their family spirit. The renovation needed to add vibrant character, more spaces that could take advantage of the expansive views, and energy efficient upgrades that would increase comfort and reduce operating expenses.

Response

We designed around the original gambrel roof, with its upper and lower slopes meeting at shallow and steep angles. The bedroom wing manifests as an energetic, sculptural form, with an expanse of glass joining at angles, wrapping around the new dining room and reaching out and down the waterfront on the back side. A bold yellow connector serves as the new entryway, moving the home’s emphasis to its welcoming doorway and away from the older wing of the house. New, south-facing glass windows and a large shed roof that faces south allow for up to 12 kW of photovoltaics, bringing this newly super-insulated structure to net zero energy.

Specs

  • Year Completed

  • Cost

    $$$$$$$
  • Gross Floor Area

    4600 sq ft
  • Beds

    5
  • Baths

    5
  • Partners

    Casco Bay Engineering
    TRS Lighting

Sustainability Achievements

Site

  • Sustainable landscape
  • Native plantings
  • Renovation required minimal site disturbance
  • Reused materials from the site
  • Resilient landscape design

Materials

  • Uses locally-sourced materials
  • Designed for durability
  • Designed for low maintenance
  • Low global warming potential insulation

Wellness

  • Optimized for daylighting
  • Fresh air ventilation system for indoor air quality
  • Visual connection to the outdoors
  • Low-VOC finishes

Water

  • Low-flow fixtures
  • Designed to maintain natural drainage patterns
  • Landscaping requires little water

Energy

  • Fossil fuel-free building
  • Uses renewable energy systems
  • Uses passive design strategies
  • R-6 windows
  • R-40 walls
  • R-60 roof
  • R-20 slab
  • Net zero
  • Fresh air ventilation system with heat recovery
  • Super-insulated
  • Triple-glazed windows
  • High Quality Air-tight construction