A Sculpted, Off-Grid Home in Coastal Maine

This handcrafted dome among the woods of coastal Maine, has been home to an artist since 2003. This architectural craft was hand-built by sculptor Daphne Pulsifer and her partner Daniel Bates and it hybridizes the typical New England cottage with an earthen monolith, celebrating pastoral tradition in a contemporary manner.

In addition to being a literal art work, a sculpture, this home has an exemplary energetic performance, giving it the ability of working off-grid. Once the house began to take shape, the sculptors asked for consultation from the Monolithic Dome Institute and achieved this construction that can work off-grid. Despite its traditional looks, modern technologies such as photovoltaic panels and a gas water heater, allows the occupants to take one step forward towards a more sustainable way of living.

This eco-haven is an idyllic place for a serene retreat. The 43 acres of forest are filled with vegetation and wildlife, such as birds and deer. The interiors count with high ceilings and large openings to the outside that keep the home connected to the site’s privileged heritage. The timber visible structure that prompts warmth inside was built from on-site trees, integrating the dome a more to its environment.

You may also like

LCA Series: Not All Carbon Is The Same

Wait — did that emission even count? When you run a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), the results often arrive with a satisfying number in kilograms or tons of CO₂ emitted. But here’s the catch: that number might be misleading. Not all CO₂ emissions are the same, and treating them as interchangeable can lead to misleading conclusions about your building’s impact. In fact, the source of carbon emissions is just as important as the amount. To make truly informed decisions, we need to understand the three main types of

Read More »

City Decay or Car Decline

Modern urban planning is often faced with the dilemma between facilitating car traffic or nurturing pedestrian-friendly environments. Today’s cities confront a crucial decision: either succumb to the erosion of cities caused by automobiles or embrace the reduction of cars to enhance urban life. Both concepts have significant implications for how cities develop and function. Erosion of cities by automobiles refers to the gradual and relentless process by which cars take over urban spaces. This process typically begins with minor changes such as widening streets or converting avenues to

Read More »
""

EE Residence

Located in the outskirts of the Frisian city Leeuwarden, near the river EE, we find the EE Residence. This energy-neutral house is the result of location-specific design, with shape and materials that evoke the typical Frisian farm barns. Local and durable materials have been used in order to reduce environmental impact, such as Frisian straw for the roof and dutch oak for the stairs and flooring. The large amount of glass of the south-facing veranda ensures optimal use of solar heat in winter and the overhangs offer protection

Read More »

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top