Projects / Single-Family / New Homes      Harpswell, ME

Studio 84

Project Team

Context

Years after completing a Net Zero home along Harpswell’s rambling coastline, we returned to the waterfront property to design a new accessory structure. The multi-purpose space would not quite be a barn or studio, and neither a boathouse nor guesthouse nor greenhouse. Instead, it would be all of those things and more, adaptable to every practical and whimsical use the owners might subject it to. The structure could be a place to put things away and bring loved ones closer; a quiet retreat or a dedicated space for making noise and entertaining a crowd (or yourself). We believe the architectural term for such a building is “party barn”.

Response

Studio 84 packs plenty of party – and purpose – into the oceanside pines and tight shoreline setbacks. Body, mind, and spirit are nurtured with a wood shop, fully equipped ceramics studio, game room, and steam room.

An open, double-height area on the ground level can be accessed by oversized barn doors to accommodate boat storage. More often, however, the space serves as a venue for ping-pong tournaments, traveling bands, and lively dance parties. Beats drop from a second-story DJ booth overlooking the room, while spectators revel from the cable-railed gallery wrapping the upper level. On quieter days, the indoor balcony functions as a sunny library with built-in bookshelves and cozy seating. Flexible sleeping quarters invite friends and family to stay awhile longer and rest after the last song plays.

The party barn creates a dialogue with the site’s existing residence using a shared materials palette, complimentary yet distinct roofline, and orientation that considers sight lines, privacy, and approach. Its unique program called for a volume with two intersecting shed roofs. Each extends beyond the building’s primary mass to create a screened porch on the water-facing elevation and a boat canopy along the driveway. The canopy’s braces gradually fan outward to hug the property’s setback, allowing the roof overhang to taper outward at the driveway and clip back towards the building at its opposite end.  Exposed hemlock timber framing and pine interiors finish the space with playful geometries and lend a warm and rustic feel to the contemporary form.

No matter how loudly the bass bumps or how hot the kiln is fired, Studio 84 powers the party without fossil fuels. The building achieves Net Zero Energy via connection to the 16kW photovoltaic array on the primary residence.

Specs

  • Year Completed

  • Cost

    $$$$$$
  • Gross Floor Area

    2246 sq ft
  • Beds

    3
  • Baths

    1
  • Partners

    Benjamin & Company
    Trillium Engineering Group
    Revision Energy

Sustainability Achievements

Site

  • Sustainable landscape
  • Edible landscape
  • Native plantings
  • Bike racks onsite
  • Ecological Stormwater Management
  • Resilient landscape design

Materials

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

Wellness

  • Optimized for daylighting
  • Visual connection to the outdoors

Water

  • Low-flow fixtures
  • Hot water on-demand recirculation system
  • Landscaping requires little water

Energy

  • Fossil fuel-free building
  • Uses renewable energy systems
  • Uses passive design strategies
  • Net Zero
  • Triple-glazed windows
  • Airtight construction
  • Predicted EUI: 7
  • Actual EUI: 0
  • % Reduction from Benchmark EUI: 100%