Contextual Design

Little Brick_West End Residence

AdditionsCondition AssessmentContextual DesignHistoric Preservation

October 23, 2023 by

The project included a site plan with the construction of a new garage, adaptation of the former garage into an indoor/outdoor entertaining space, contextually designed Mudroom Addition, new landscaping and hardscaping, restoration of exterior elements, such as the exterior masonry and wood trim work, and replacement of the original slate roof in-kind. The interior was a custom adaptation to the client’s needs and involved all four floors of upgrades and improvements. B+W ushered all of the exterior work through the City of Portland Historic Preservation review board for unanimous approval.

Architects’ Home + Studio, Portland

Contextual DesignMaster PlanningNew Construction

December 20, 2022 by

A new home and studio for the Architects is comprised of their 1,750-square-foot house and an independent, 1,000-square-foot architectural studio. Sited on a previously undeveloped parcel of land in a Portland neighborhood, the challenge was to both fit the new structure into the rhythm of the neighborhood, and yet create the least disruption of the natural habitat.

Without question, the site itself informed the design of the building. We located the house at the ecotone – perching it on an overlook between a native wildflower meadow that provides relief from the bustle of the street and nestled up to the peacefulness of over a hundred acres of sanctuary land.

Positioning the house on the slope allowed for an embedded full-height lower level in the hillside. By building upward instead of outward, the house touches the land lightly, also reducing maintenance and heating costs.

The solar orientation further informed the house’s alignment, looking toward the narrow view of the Fore River tributary. The long side of the house faces true south so that the living spaces on the south and west receive sunlight all day and benefit from passive heat gain all winter. One desire was to use some design principles of Vastu Shastra, a traditional Indian system of architecture. As a result, the front door faces east where the rising sun shines into the house to start the day.

The mother trees to the south provide wonderful comfort and summer shade for the long wall of full-height glass, without the need for solar shades. Shares in a solar farm offset the electrical use to approach net-zero.

Adaptability is key for aging in place: The main stair is wider to allow either adding a chair lift, but if we decide on one-floor living, the screen porch can be readily converted to a primary bedroom.

The architecture studio is on the lower level. With one large space and services tucked along the perimeter, the lower level is also adaptable to future uses: architecture studio, apartment, or even a place for the ping-pong table. It has two entrances, one shared and one independent entrance.

The main approach has a gabled roof, punctuated windows, and nautically evoked wood detailing. The entry mudroom opens up into a large room with floor-to-ceiling glass framing the forest beyond. The living room floats out over the land, like a ship’s bow, making one feel as if being transported via ferry to the islands, leaving the city behind at your back. The room is bathed in sunlight that plays on the off-white walls, with pops of colorful art and objects.

The multifunctioning spaces: living, dining, kitchen all reside in one large volume. The washer and dryer are tucked under a built-in sideboard. With a small sink, the sideboard serves as a bar, serving counter, flower-arranging area, and extra pantry storage, as well as a laundry.

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church

AdditionsContextual DesignHistoric PreservationMaster Planning

November 28, 2022 by

The buildings at St. Alban’s evolved as three separate buildings serving diverse needs, but without a master plan in mind. Facilities included a turn-of-the century residence that serves as the rectory (the original estate that donated the land), a 1954 church building and a 1970s parish hall. The new plan combines the parish hall and the church in a long-term vision set by the parish to respond to the changing needs of their community.

The solution creates a unified building that is fully integrated and accessible by removing the 1970s parish hall from the site and creating an addition to the mid-century era church for new community uses. This allows parishioners to remain in one building to encourage interaction and provides a primary arrival and entrance to St. Alban’s. A secondary entrance also allows for after-hours use of lower level classrooms. The siting creates space for outdoor play areas for children and contemplative gardens.

I wanted to express our appreciation for the outstanding job that your firm did in the design and implementation of the new building. I was particularly pleased and impressed with the way that you made a significant reduction in the space while retaining the character of the original design.

The impact of the new structure on the parish is truly exciting. Our membership and attendance have risen significantly over the past year due in large part to the attractiveness and enhanced functionality of the new parish hall. Our neighbors are delighted.

–Donald Bonoff, Chairman, Building Committee, St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, Cape Elizabeth, Maine

The new parish hall had to be consistent with the existing structure and sympathetic to the surrounding architecture. The addition also contains a fully-equipped kitchen, administrative offices, larger classrooms and more meeting space. Parking, traffic flow, outdoor spaces, site lighting, storm water runoff, and amenities were much improved. The property was developed in such a manner as to allow for future subdivision should the Owner wish to divest of the residence.

Barba + Wheelock returned about six years after the completion of the parish hall to design and implement a youth room on the previously unfinished third floor, completing the master plan for the church.

Skowhegan Free Public Library

AdditionsContextual DesignHistoric Preservation

November 28, 2022 by

The Skowhegan Free Public Library, a National Register-listed property, was constructed in 1887. Gardiner, Maine architect Edwin E. Lewis designed the Queen Anne style building overlooking the Kennebec River. The interior consists of large reading and reference rooms and a two-story stack space in the rear. The second floor of the main section houses the children’s library. The building remains fundamentally as it was originally constructed: original interior casework, shelving, furnishings and decorative fireplace mantels remain and are significant features of the historic building.

The Library Renovation Committee and Trustees began working with B+W in 2010 to address universal (ADA) accessibility, code improvements, and create more usable “found” space within the footprint of the existing building. B+W solved this difficult accessibility problem principally through the construction of a 5-stop elevator addition which will convey patrons to the multiple building levels. Life safety improvements included a new egress stair addition and an interior stair to connect the second floor of the main section to the stack wing. Prior to this work there was no contiguous access. The project also included renovation of the currently unused basement for the library program expansion; the use of the basement required installation of a building-wide fire-suppression sprinkler system, which was sensitively integrated into the historic structure.

The overall cost projection for the full build-out was about $800,000 in 2011 dollars, a large sum for a small town library. Barba + Wheelock developed detailed construction plans so that the project was totally integrated. B+W’s strategic advice resulted in the Trustees selecting a local construction manager who works to phase the work as funding becomes available. B+W also worked to identify funding sources for the Trustees.

Construction commenced in Fall 2011. The phases undertaken to date include:

Underground utility, waterproofing and drainage upgrades to improve the basement conditions (Completed)
Egress stair addition and basement fit-out (Completed)
Sprinkler system throughout and review with MHPC (Completed)
Stack wing rehabilitation and internal stair (Completed)
Elevator addition (Beginning July 2016)

Bucknam Tavern / Forsyth-Scangas Residence

AdditionsContextual DesignHistoric Preservation

October 23, 2023 by

The much-awaited restoration of the Bucknam Tavern was complete after three years of construction. Archaeological work dated the structure to 1740 – 1760, one of Falmouth’s earliest remaining houses. The house has been in the same family since the early 1900’s when a Danish Wheelwright brought his young family to the U.S. to seek a better opportunity in America.

The great-granddaughter of the original owner and her husband consulted Barba + Wheelock Architecture, who compared restoration costs to new construction and were pleased to learn that restoration would be less costly and to preserve not only the beloved homestead, but cherished memories from visits with her grandparents over many years. The Owner opted to not only restore the main house, but to reconstruct the 1-1/2 story El, a feature that had been present in their memory, with a surviving granite foundation.

B+W brought in Restoration Resources of Alna, Maine who contributed a wealth of experience in house restoration, carpentry and craftsmanship.

Together the team worked with the Owners throughout the Covid pandemic to bring the project to fruition.

The sight of this once graying and decaying structure on Middle Road, now brightly re-splendid, has generated much enthusiasm amongst old house lovers. Now fully restored and newly insulated, operating with all new systems, this historic homestead is poised to survive well into the future. It stands as a symbol of resurgence and celebrates both the power of a family’s perseverance and memory and is fully embraced by the community for its longstanding place in Falmouth history.

This project received a Greater Portland Landmarks Rehabilitation Project Preservation Award in 2023.

Thornton Academy Main Street Dormitories, Saco

Adaptive ReuseCondition AssessmentContextual DesignHistoric PreservationMaster PlanningNew Construction

November 28, 2022 by

The initial design challenge was to integrate a new building type and new construction form into the historic campus. The designs respond to the historic context of Main Street in the Saco Historic Preservation District as well as a predominately red brick campus, which has evolved via several construction campaigns during its nearly 125 year history. The residential quality of other Main Street (and Academy) houses and historic detailing from the campus’ education buildings informed our design. We believe this approach has achieved a dormitory and future village that complements both the community of Saco and the Academy.

Locating the first dormitory building – Nelson Residence Hall – on a previously unoccupied lawn at the campus’ main entrance, now forms a gateway to the historic campus. The long axis of the dormitories faces south-southwest for optimal solar exposure and frames the entry to campus create greens or courtyards between each of the proposed buildings. The street façades, of this and the forthcoming buildings, are designed to establish the street rhythm found on Main Street south of the campus.

Nelson Residence Hall, completed in Summer 2009, is constructed with durable standing seam roofs and fiber-cement cladding in neutral colors that acknowledge existing patterns and textures found on campus buildings without resorting to mimicking the brick, which the project’s budget could not justify.

A tight building envelope with high thermal insulation performance was achieved with the use of ICF (insulated concrete forms) for the foundation and first floor walls and conventional framing with dense pack cellulose insulation at the second-floor level. The use of ICF benefits the interior architecture as its wall depth creates deep recesses at the windows adding a layer of space for use by the residents. ICF also allowed an economical and seamless construction season as the contractor was able to pour concrete walls throughout the winter without concern for special freeze protection. The ICF walls achieved a R-48, far exceeding any current energy code.

Contextual Design

This project received a Greater Portland Landmarks Rehabilitation Project Preservation Award in 2023.

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