SAMUEL H. WILLIAMSON  ASSOCIATES

A pond-side retreat is built on an island off the coast of Maine. The site slopes gently from a wooded edge toward the pond and the rural hills beyond. Meandering stone walls, inspired by the local farm vernacular, lead from the forest to the grassy meadow. A gathering place beneath the shade of an existing tree is formed by a stone wall that curves out of the grade. A stone maze, incorporating text and boulders arranged in the same orientation as the surrounding islands, provides active engagement with the place. Each element was carefully designed to enhance the experience of being in this landscape without detracting or overwhelming its inherent beauty.

A summer house for dining al fresco sits at the edge of a meadow looking out across a pond and rural hills to the Atlantic beyond.  The timber frame structure provides enclosure, while the louvered panels allow light and the sea air to permeate. The building is set into a stone wall that becomes a fireplace and storage cabinets as it forms the back wall of the summer house. The use of stone provides an anchor for the more airy feeling of the slatted walls. A canvas and steel canopy overhead recalls a boat's hull in form; rain water will drip from its edge into a gravel ring in the stone floor below. The granite table at the center of the structure provides seating for a summer meal with views out to the landscape.