Small House

Located in the town of Truro on Outer Cape Cod, this small, modern house is designed for a simple lifestyle in tune with nature. Though not far from Boston and New York City, the Outer Cape has long been known for its unspoiled beaches and bohemian culture. As an experiment in contemporary living and a celebration of the landscape, the Truro House carries on the local tradition of creative thinking in the context of contemplative nature.

The house is centered on a screened porch which creates opportunities to adapt to seasonal change and to evolving lifestyles. The porch both connects and separates two enclosed structures. Combined, these structures make a three-bedroom home with spaces for guests or work. Separated, they make a variety of arrangements, including home-with-office, home-with-guest suite, and home-with-accessory dwelling. This allows the building to expand and contract over time to suit different lifestyle choices.

The screened porch is also a place to be both sheltered from the rain, sun, and insects while feeling part of the forest. It’s a place to hear the crickets, feel the breeze, to watch the moon and to be connected to nature. Adjacent spaces, including a roof deck overlooking Massachusetts Bay and a sheltered patio below, provide options for outdoor comfort throughout the day.

The house is finished with natural cedar siding which accentuates the horizontality and lightness of the wood structure and relates to the surrounding woods.  Projecting over its concrete base, the house recalls a fishing boat hauled up on the beach. In the screened porch, the cedar siding becomes an interior finish material, blurring the distinction between inside and outside and reinforcing the connection between daily living and nature.

Finally, the house is green. It is energy efficient and conserves natural resources because sustainability is the ultimate harmony between man and nature.