Project: ViewPoint Hotel -Shoreside Hotel Units

Location: 229 Nubble Road, York, Maine 03909

Type: Hospitality

Client: Crane Hotel Group

Size: 7 Hotel Units, 4,500 SF, 2.15 Acres

Year: 2023

Program: 7 Hotel Units, Wedding Ceremony Event Space, Landscape Redesign

The client assigned us the challenge of reimagining the original Cabana Structures that adorned the site in the 1950s. Our mission was to create an intimate bungalow/cabana experience, leveraging the picturesque vistas while preserving the unobstructed views of the existing hotel. Simultaneously, we envisioned a breathtaking wedding ceremony lawn with panoramic 'infinity' ocean views.

Before our intervention, the site boasted exquisite stonework, gardens, and expansive lawns. Preserving the site's inherent beauty with minimal disruption was paramount, and our objective was to exceed its original charm. Our design strategy resembled a meticulous surgical procedure on the landscape -- employing strategic incisions to nestle the hotel units into the hillside, seamlessly integrating them with the surrounding nature.

The hotel experience is envisioned as a theatrical production for our guests. As visitors descend towards the units, they are enveloped by imposing concrete walls lining a dark and enclosed entry corridor, evoking a sense of anticipation. The transition from the enclosed, somber entrance to the airy, sunlit interior with epic ocean / lighthouse views is intended to elicit a profound 'wow' moment.

Various factors influenced the design of the units, with scheduling being the primary driver, leading to extensive utilization of cast-in-place concrete and prefabricated concrete roof panels. The material and form of the building evoke the many Civil War and World War 2 structures dotting the surrounding landscape. This bunker-like form and material resonated as a natural way to connect our building with the broader historical context.

Glass, another integral component of our design, acts as a conduit for breathtaking views, facilitated by expansive bi-folding sliding doors spanning 16 feet. Glass railings, seamlessly integrated into the landscape, afford uninterrupted vistas from both the wedding lawn and the hotel units. However, the pièce de résistance lies in the bathroom – with a transparent wall offering unobstructed panoramas of the ocean and lighthouse.

Passive Solar Design was also a guiding principle in the building design. Concrete floors help harness and redistribute solar energy during winter months, while large 10-foot deep overhangs shield windows from harsh summer sunlight, reducing solar heat gain in the summer and minimizing reliance on air conditioning. Additionally, the entire building is covered in a green roof, surpassing all code required insulation requirements. The decision to embed these units within the site reclaimed more of the site’s natural square footage, surpassing the pre-existing landscaped area—an accomplishment facilitated by the use of green roofs.

The new hotel units represent a harmonious blend of past and present, where guests can indulge in nostalgia while reveling in modern luxury with unparalleled views, sustainable design, and an immersive experience.