Ranch Re-vision is a renovation of a Ranch style home in coastal Maine. Just a short drive north of Portland,the owners loved the location and scenic beauty of the property overlooking Casco Bay. However, the existing house was outdated / dark and did not suit their lifestyle needs or preferred contemporary design aesthetic. Rather than tearing down and starting from scratch, the owners tasked a multi-disciplinary design team with finding innovative solutions to re-purpose the structure / site; create a living environment that is beautiful / comfortable / family friendly / energy efficient and connected to the coastal landscape. The result is a fresh and novel take on the 1960’s building typology.

The designers developed strategies to utilize the structural bones to create spaces that fit the young family’s daily activities and personal tastes;The owners are lifelong boaters with a deep connection to the ocean, they find serenity in simplified spaces and clean design, and their son loves to swim, play, and entertain.

The interior of the house was altered to create flow, ease of circulation and simplified site lines. Broad paneled glazing was added to the southern facade to bring in more natural light and open up each room to the majestic beauty of the ever changing tidal ecosystem. Stainless steel railings installed with nautical detail and precision reference the family’s strong boating tradition. The site design employed a similar approach as the architecture; overlay simplified materials / plant palette to heighten the experience of the place and natural phenomena (light / shadow / wind / tides / humidity). Added landscape elements such as the new pool /deck / auto-court were intentionally proportioned and designed to sync with specific house features; extending architectural gestures into the site. The culminating design efforts produced a sophistication of the ranch style home that embraces Maine’s coastal heritage and a family’s affinity for modern design.