A project 30 years in the making, this tiny
off-grid retreat on a coastal island in Maine is almost entirely self-sufficient. Designed and built by
Alex Porter for her father, the project features a shed roof and is wrapped in a distinctive blue-grey corrugated skin.
Dwell recently profiled the home, which is the only
solar-powered
retreat on the isolated island – its sustainable power source actually
makes life a lot more leisurely, as the family does not need to schlep
in fuel to run a noisy generator. They didn’t give anything up, as they
have all the conveniences of a regular home — but with a view you don’t
get in an everyday residence.
The house is situated on a tiny sleeve of rock tucked close to the
water. The sturdy steel cladding was chosen for a good reason: the
northern squall can be relentless. The
cabin
has a series of rolling storm panels that ward off the elements. When
the sun shines, a small solar-electric panel mounted to the southern
facing roof feeds 12v DC to the batteries, which in turn powers lights, a
super efficient
Sunfrost Refrigerator,
and a small water pump. A large rainwater catchment tank provides more
than enough water for the home, and a small on-demand water heater
supplies an outdoor shower and the sink.
Given the remote location of the property and the site’s lack of power,
the design made careful use of all materials so that everything is
spaced on 24-inch centers. Most of the finishing materials were sourced
locally and floated in. One big question remains — what to do when you
need to use the loo? A
Sun-Mar
composting toilet does the job, transforming the waste into fertilizer.
While none of the systems are ground-breaking, the design is a
transparent example of how well off-grid living can work, and how we can
live in nature without polluting it.
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