The Phippsburg: A 20' x 36' Off-Grid Timber Frame Cottage

The Phippsburg Cottage is a 20' x 36' handcrafted timber frame home designed for the unique demands of off-grid living on the Maine coast. This spacious 1.5-story residence features a first-floor master bedroom and an open dining area, with the option of two additional bedrooms on the second level. Engineered for maximum thermal efficiency, the structure is enclosed in a high-performance SIP envelope that makes it ideal for remote sites with limited utility access. To bridge the gap between indoor and outdoor living, we integrated a 10' x 24' handcrafted timber frame porch, offering a shaded sanctuary to enjoy the surrounding nature preserve.

Floor Plan and Elevations:
Click a thumbnail to start this slideshow.
Floor Plan of 20' x 32' Phippsburg CottageFloor Plan 3D Porch Elevation3D Porch Elevation North ElevationNorth Elevation
Construction Photos: Click a thumbnail to start this slideshow.
Clearing tree blocking road to the house site
Clearing tree Raising first timber frame bent
First bent Drilling Peg Holes
Peg holes Raising second timber frame bent
Raising second bent Intalling joists
Installing joists Positioning post on sill seal
Positioning post Four timber frame bents raised
Bents raised Pine board ceiling
Pine boards Installing plates with scarf joint
Installing plates First rafter set
First rafter set More rafter sets
More rafter sets Main 20' x 32' Phippsburg Cottage timber frame finished
Main frame finished Scarf Joint
Scarf joint Eave wall SIP panels
Eave wall panels Looking at SIP panels through the building
From the other side Porch rafters
Porch rafters Porch timber frame
Porch frame First SIP Roof Panel
First roof panel Eave wall SIP panels
Eave wall panels More SIP wall panels
More wall panels Looking at the field from inside the cottage
Inside, out SIP Panels on the gable end
Gable end SIP panels on the other gable end
Other gable end SIPs installed on the 20' x 32' Phippsburg Cottage by Bungalow In A Box
SIPs installed Black Metal Roof
Black metal roof Moor metal roofing
More roofing Road side view of finished Phippsburg cottage
Road-side view Porch side view of finished Phippsburg cottage
Porch-side view
Finishing by Client: Click a thumbnail to start this slideshow.
Extrior of 20' x 32' Phippsburg Cottage complete
Exterior complete
 Kitchen progress
Kitchen progress
 Kitchen from another angle
Kitchen
 Stairs
Stairs
 Long view of in the snow of finished 20' x 32' Phippsburg Cottage
Long view