Design Solution: Pine Cove, a trio of buildings designed by Woodhull for exploration and reflection, was inspired by a pair of artistic, adventurous clients and the house’s unique location within the pines. The initial site selection was collaborative effort to capture the quintessential Maine experience, and the arrival sequence was meticulously planned.

The building’s form references the curve of a nearby cove and embraces natural outcroppings. Its vertical siding mirrors the surrounding pines, blurring the lines between architecture and nature. The interior is an expression of craft and the owner’s personal story—inherited family pieces and the client’s own artwork blend with precise, solid wood millwork—while diverse spaces cater to gatherings and moments of quiet reflection. From meticulously crafted walnut veneers in the kitchen to sequence-matching hundreds of spline joints on the wood slat walls, subtle attention to detail inside matches the house’s precise and harmonious engagement with nature outside.

Structure and Materials: The house is constructed with a wood frame and features an exterior insulation layer and rain screen made of locally milled Eastern white cedar designed to blend into the understory of the spruce trees. The East Coast ash millwork was designed and constructed in-house by the architects. The kitchen features a mix of walnut and stained solid wood on intricately crafted cabinet doors that blend into the walls, including a custom powder room door. Ash floors complement the custom ash, south-facing sliding interior sunscreens. A local craftsman fabricated a waxed metal fireplace surround that divides the library from the living room.

Additional Information
Completion date: November 2022
Site size: 3.8 acres
Total construction cost: Withheld
Client/Owner: Sarah and Charles Beneke

Photos © Trent Bell