A Remote Island Home Accessible Only by Boat Is Immersed Into the Rugged Maine Coast

Along the southern coast of Maine, Harbor Island is a rugged juncture of forest and sea. Blanketed with trees, the remote and largely undeveloped island overlooks alluring views of the bay and open water beyond. However, the unspoiled natural beauty comes at a cost: The isolated location is accessible only by boat—with each residential parcel needing its own dock, as there are no on-island roads. Also, because of the site’s craggy outcrop, it bears the full brunt of storms barreling up the coast, with gale-force winds and potential flooding both quietly looming threats.

Respecting the wildness of the remote location, an adventurous and privacy-seeking couple found a fit in Harbor Island after searching for land for several years. The couple, now with two grown children, engaged Portland, Maine-based Woodhull to design a home for them in the secluded setting. "They love being outdoors," says David Morris, architect and director of Woodhull’s Residential Studio. "They are very resourceful and adventurous and relish in the privacy that this little island provides them."

In designing a home for the secluded site, Morris kept the form simple and unassuming—embracing contrast with the wildness of the surroundings. The home’s siting follows a radial geometry to take advantage of panoramic views. "The building geometry mimics the striated formations of the craggy ledge that was formed when the last glacial maximum retreated around 20,000 years ago," says Morris. From the lower tip of Harbor Island where the home is sited, panoramic views stretch out to the islands in Casco Bay, and back to the mainland on two sides.