“The story goes back about 60 years,” laughed the homeowner of Coastal Kin. “My parents bought this property in 1966. They built an original structure by tearing down an old house and putting it back together again. So that house lasted about 50 years in this harsh coastal environment.”
New Energy Works, of course, loves this formative attempt at reclaiming old materials to make something new. Joan’s parents were definitely ahead of the curve when it came to an awareness of reuse and sustainability.
“When my parents passed away, they left us with the property. Because the house was old when it was ‘new’ to my parents, we decided that it was time to start from scratch,” says the homeowner. “We brought our kids up here throughout their lives and now our children are bringing their kids here. That was the driving part on why we wanted to invest in this new home.”
The coastal property embraces the sandy memories of a long family history. In addition to the generations of family who have spent time at the house, the homeowners were married in the salty air just up the shoreline from their property 44 years prior. They knew there would come a time when the house in its current state would not last long without a significant upgrade.
“I started doing searches, we were living in Portland and New Energy Works had their studio there. I was thinking that a local timber frame company was something to seek out. I connected with Jonathan [Orpin] on the phone and discussed what we were thinking and if that would be a project New Energy would be interested in. He jumped on it. He and David Shirley came out shortly after to look at our old house and they certainly agreed that it was time to start over.”
“Over time the house began to show its age, and the decision was made to demolish the cherished and somewhat ad hoc structure that had created so many good memories for the siblings,” says New Energy Works architect, David Shirley AIA, CPHB. “Two of the three sisters in the family joined up to build a new house on the site that would honor the memory of their parents while also creating two connected by independent spaces for the sisters and their families and friends.”
Soon after meeting the entire house was razed. While none of the original materials could be recovered and used, the new build would be placed onto the house’s initial footprint. The home would be a hybrid timber frame, with the homeowner’s sister living in one portion of the house. The homeowners were going to live in the other, and the two families would share spaces between the two sides.
“I sort of led the charge on the timber frame, it was an aspect of buildings that I always loved and always had a great feeling about,” says the homeowner. “I knew that the overall design was going to have Joan and in one half of the house and her sister in the other. I knew that we were probably going to do things differently on each side, and in our half, I wanted to push for timber frame elements.”
“Working on the design with New Energy was a very easy process. They listened so well to what it was that we had in mind. Designing the home with my sister went much smoother than anybody thought it would.”
One of the homeowners agrees, “We worked with David on the whole design, Joan’s sister for her side, and we got the timber that we wanted. Lots of meetings and backs and forth to figure out what would work, what we wanted, and how to incorporate all of that. David just did a tremendous job.”
“Once the homeowners made their way to New Energy Works, it was their story that made us want the job,” says Shirley. “Building on the coast is challenging, building one house for two clients is a challenge; building with a modest budget is a challenge. Combine all of these challenges together and throw in the emotional and historical significance of this project to the clients and you have the recipe for a really interesting project, the kind that gets me out of bed in the morning. We worked closely with the clients to develop spaces that allowed room for social interaction and family togetherness, while also maintaining each sibling’s autonomy and privacy needs.”
“The new house is set up like a duplex in that we have one side, my older sister has the other side, and we have some shared spaces. Our side is the original footprint. It’s the same set up as the original house had been. My sister’s side is all brand new, but it really does harken back to what was there before.”
The homeowner’s half of the duplex is structurally supported by a Douglas fir timber frame, while Joan’s sister’s side is a more traditional build. Together they create a home that looks forward as well as back. It features new views and modern amenities while paying tribute to the original house and its family history.
“All of the materials are new, but the design definitely reflects the old house. The floorplan worked then, and we knew it would work well with a few improvements.”
The central focus is the kitchen that spotlights the details of its heavy timber trusses and large stone fireplace. An abundance of windows faces east toward the sunrise, looking at sand dunes that stretch to the Pacific shoreline.
“It’s a very sentimental story for us. Every nail of the old house was put in by my father, with help from friends and family, so it was bittersweet for us to start over again,” remembers the homeowner.
“The new house has the flavor of the old house, and we are so very happy with that. My parents were still quite young when they were building the first home. I remember hearing over and over their desire for ‘open beam ceilings’. They also wanted a view of the water. So, there’s a lot of these things in the new house they had wanted. I feel like we finished for them what they started.”
A silvery thread of satisfaction weaves together the family’s past and looks forward to a future where children and grandchildren can continue to live the coastal legacy that began 60 years ago.
“At New Energy Works we strive to bring the house that’s inside people out and show it to them,” Shirley says. “This project is a great example of a success in that regard. I feel fortunate that I was able to be a part of creating this home that is not only loved by the current inhabitants but will hopefully be enjoyed by many generations to come.”
“We still turn to each other and say, ‘You know this is our dream house’. That’s how we refer to it. It’s a cliché and it’s corny, but it absolutely turned out to be what we were hoping it would be. The fact that it’s a timber frame home is the icing on the cake. Being in a space that’s so sentimental, yet so much more comfortable (and dare I say it more beautiful than the original) is the dream come true.”
Architect: New Energy Works Design
Builder: New Energy Works
Other Credits: Eclipse Engineering, Loren Nelson Photography, Pioneer Millworks
