Houses of Maine

A book of six beautiful homes that are integrated with their surroundings

Elliott + Elliott Architecture holds a firm belief that houses should not impose on nature, but coexist with it. Their stunning new book Houses of Maine is a testament to this creed. An extraordinary monograph, the six houses featured embrace the surrounding beauty of the Pine Tree State. 

Silent spaces near House on a Pond

Courtesy Princeton Architectural Press

With a traditional exterior and a modern interior, House on a Pond in an update on the forms found in fishing shacks and wharf buildings. A series of decks links three simple cottages, creating secluded exterior spaces. These areas capture a sense of silence, allowing the visitor to simultaneously experience the environment and the buildings.

House on a pond

Courtesy Princeton Architectural Press

House on the Barrens, another residence consisting of three structures, mixes the classic style with more contemporary ideas. As visitors walk through the home, which is joined by low-roof connectors, they must go in and out of the buildings, making interaction with the outdoors an integral part of the experience. Partially hidden from the main structure is an artist’s studio, reminiscent of a barn.  All of the buildings feature large windows and open, airy interiors, creating an outdoor feeling inside.

With House on a Hill Elliott + Elliott aimed to honor the Cape-Cod style home that stood on the spot for over a hundred years. Yet, it wanted to depart from the isolation that often comes with such traditional architecture. To do this, the firm punctuated the traditional exterior with glass covered walkways between different portions of the home, and with large windows.

Interior of House on a Point

Courtesy Princeton Architectural Press

House on a Point is one of the more unique homes in the book. While most of the houses are based on classic building styles from the region, House on a Point derives inspiration from the style of boat construction that once dominated the region, with curved roofs and modernist metal supports on the interior.

Statements such as, “As one travels through the fishing villages and tourist towns that pepper the coastline, time itself seems to slow,” and “In Maine, light is both cherished and mysterious element,” show how central a sense of place is to the work of Elliott + Elliott. While the writing as a whole leaves something to be desired, the photos make for a beautiful book.

Samantha Macy is a blogger and designer interning at Metropolis.

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