House in the LandscapeSiting Your Home Naturally

Jeremiah Eck

P r i n c e t o n A rc h i t e c t u r a l P re s s , N e w Yo r k

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THIS HOUSE ON the coast not far from Boston, designed by my office, Eck MacNeely

Architects, is a blend of old and new, and this specific mix or style, if you will, began with

its site design and not from some preconceived notion. The homeowners came to us with

conflicting concerns. An existing house on the site built in the early twentieth century had

no distinctive qualities. It wasn’t sited properly, most of the rooms were dark with bad views,

and the exterior was deteriorating. Stylistically, the old house wasn’t even a good example

F a l m o u t h , M a s s a c h u s e t t s , 2 0 0 5

E c k M a c N e e l y A rc h i t e c t s

Coastal House

of shingle style found throughout the neighborhood. The clients wanted to tear it down and

start over, but the neighborhood association insisted that the fabric of the neighborhood be

preserved. As many of the houses near the site were traditional, the homeowners did not want

to offend their neighbors with a house that was too stylistically separate from the others. They

were determined that the house fit in on the exterior without being too slavish to historical

types, but just as determined that the house take full advantage of the site, no matter what

style that produced.

We decided to tear down the old house, since most of the existing house was unre-

markable, with the exception of a few interior details such as the fireplace mantels and staircase

newels, which the homeowner donated to the local historical society. The most displeasing

feature was the height of the first floor above the existing grade around the house: at a full

five feet it effectively prevented any easy access to the site, especially along the water, except

by way of stairs, or, in other words, ten steps. With the collaboration of landscape architects

Richard Burck Associates, our early design effort focused on a more useful and inspired rela-

tionship to the site.

Within the confines of conservation setbacks from the ocean and neighboring wet-

lands, as well as zoning setbacks from property lines, we positioned the new house on a flat-

ter area of the site. Even within those constraints, the final positioning was more sympathetic

with the site and a clear improvement over the previous house. The move was unusual for a

water site since it meant moving the house closer to the street, but it actually resulted in much

easier access to the outside, since the first floor of the house was now three shallow steps from

grade and a series of low terraces on the water side. The resulting larger lawn area was also a

nice contrast to the natural vegetation of shrubs and trees such as Rosa rugosa and red cedar

C o a s t a l

New England

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that remained within the conservation setback. An existing narrow path was preserved for the

occasional walk to the beach.

As we positioned the house closer to grade, we also configured the house’s rooms

so that they all had good views and good sun during some portion of the day and had direct

access to the exterior on the first floor. The result was a house plan that took on a very free-

flowing character in sharp contrast to the dark, broken up rooms of the original house. And

because the house is only one room deep—one can actually see through it from the street to

the water—it receives good cross ventilation from southwest breezes in the summer and feels

smaller than it really is at 7,800 square feet.

In deference to the owners’ concerns about privacy from the neighbors, this contem-

porary interior design of free-flowing connected rooms was balanced by a more traditional

exterior massing consisting of cedar shingles, minimal trim, steep gables, and low sloped

overhanging roofs that provide shade, protection from a variety of weather conditions com-

mon along the Massachusetts coast, and require little long-term maintenance.

This house is a good example of site responsiveness that also satisfied conflicting

concerns. It gave the owners both a contemporary, open plan that answered their current liv-

ing needs and a more traditional exterior that blends with the neighborhood houses. It did so

by adhering to good siting principles such as using the topography effectively and positioning

rooms for more sun and breezes. The resulting style was a true mix of old and new, pleasing

both to the owners and neighbors.

w Even within the confines of Falmouth

Conservation Commission requirements,

expansive views to the water were possible.

o v e r l e a f A blend of traditional and

contemporary shapes helps the house mix well

with the neighborhood.

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r Large porch overhangs help shield the

outdoor sitting areas and indoor spaces from

afternoon sun.

w Decks separated by low stone walls are

just a few steps down to the wide lawn area

beyond.

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r From afar, the house harmonizes with

land, sea, and sky.

s Site plan and site plan with vegetation

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