Spofford Boat House | architecture

Studio II - Spofford Boat House

Students were assigned to build an event function space along with a boat storage facility, locker room area, and offices on an existing nearby site on Spofford Lake in NH. Students followed a program of specific requirements these buildings needed to fulfill, such as small boat storage for a local yacht club, approximate square footage each room had to have, legal distance from water, and ADA bathroom compliance. The site needed to have repose spots where one could stop and pause to reflect and also needed strong entry and exit thresholds. Research on site history and the present site conditions could reflect design schemes.

Existing Site

Site Plan of the existing town beach site on Spofford Lake in Spofford, NH.

First Conceptual Sketch

Movement inspired by stream, two inverted sister repose spots. First spot is an over-look inspired by water droplet ripple while second is a reflection pool.

Site Analysis

Analysis drawing done depicting vehicular circulation, pedestrian circulation, vegetation placement, and building placement on the site.

Existing Site

Site Plan of the existing town beach site on Spofford Lake in Spofford, NH.

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Schematic Design & Site Study

While studying the site and it's history I became fascinated with the economic value this lake once had many years ago. This lake was once filled with steamboats on the water and residents manufacturing goods to be sent off from the lake onto a stream and eventually to the CT river. This inspired my stream design. The meandering pattern would move visitors through the site, meticulously planned with each twist and turn down the site. Added repose spots along the way would control their movements, much like a movie director controls their scenes. My inverse "sister" respose spots would be directly correlated, connecting visitors from the beginning of the site, and all the way until the end. Overlooks would direct towards views of the building with picturesque Spofford Lake in the background, as the final destination.

Function Space Model

Site Top View

View from North Shore Road

Function Space Model

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Function Space & Boat Storage Facility

Each building was carefully planned prior to placement. The function space is located on the eastern side of the side, the less shady area offering the best views of the lake. The boat house and locker room are closest to the water, since I felt it was important that visitors would not have to walk all the way up the site to use a bathroom or change clothes. The function building and office/kitchen building appear to be as one building from North Shore Rd, but only until you travel the path and see the outreaching corner guiding you in, do you see that they are separated. As visitors step down from the first repose spot, they can see Spofford Lake directly through both buildings. High clerestory windows in the event space create a bright room offering a panoramic display of the always busy Spofford Lake.