Perched on a rocky cliff overlooking Penobscot Bay, this prefabricated custom home is oriented, and equipped, to maximize panoramic ocean views and passive solar heat gains. Michael Hawkes, head of design for Acorn Deck House Company in Acton, Massachusetts, intended the monoslope roofs and geometry of massive windows to showcase the seascape and encourage light to beam through the home in the chilly months; deep roof overhangs provide shade in the summertime, when the sun is higher. The exterior finishes, including fiber cement siding and cedar trim around the aluminum-clad windows, were chosen for their low- maintenance properties and intrinsic beauty.
Inside, the exposed post-and-beam construction allows for wide-open spaces, furthering the home’s connection to the land and facilitating family gatherings. From the great room, the owners and their guests can spill out onto an expansive front deck. Upstairs, a roof deck off the owners’ suite offers a “box seat” overlooking the bay.
Acorn Deck House Company’s Michael Hawkes received his professional degree in architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2004. He has since focused his career on customized, high-end prefabrication, with its efficient design and construction methods. As manager of the Acton, Massachusetts firm’s design department, Hawkes enjoys leading his team and working closely with the sales, pricing, panelization and manufacturing departments to create unique homes that satisfy each client’s site needs, wish list and budget. He is also a LEED Green Associate and brings a passion for sustainability to every home he designs.
