Located on a rocky hilltop overlooking Penobscot Bay, Four Square invites the impressive surrounding landscape in through a process of volumetric subtraction. Beginning with a rational square footprint, sections of the façade are strategically recessed to form covered entry points and sheltered outdoor living spaces. Portions of the typical gable roof are carved away, leaving two offset clerestories that fill the home with light throughout the day.
The single-story floor plan falls neatly into quadrants—one for living, one for sleeping, a pair of home offices, and a garage—with lengths of perimeter wall defining outdoor spaces and creating a subtle pinwheel effect, further opening the residence to the site in which it sits. The individual quadrants are articulated by generous circulation corridors, which in turn create the opportunity for stunning axial views through the building, out to the bay and wooded landscape.
A quiet, unified palette of materials mimics the serene living environment, giving primacy to full-height openings for visual and physical access. Wrapped in a stained pine siding, the building’s façade blends with the surrounding trees, while the recesses are defined with a darker stain.
Typical of OPAL projects, the building envelope is super-insulated to the Passive House standard and utilizes a heat-recovery ventilation system and air source heat pump, resulting in high levels of energy efficiency and a healthful home that is comfortable in all seasons.
