This private residence is the architect's home in the peninsula neighborhood of Squantum.

Site of the demolished, former Squantum water tower, the 80'x80' lot had six massive remnant caisson footings from the water tower legs, unexcavated underground, and a twenty-foot deep frontage slope down to a five-foot retaining wall at curbside. Zoning required off-street parking and maximum 30' building height to permit construction.

With these constraints, the home was conceived to bear on the water tower's footings with no basement and to minimize rear and side yard setbacks. A full 1500 sf roof deck was created to capture the building footprint as exterior space, while minimizing height. A two-car drive was cut into the hillside with a twelve-foot high retaining wall hosting a concrete entry stair.

The home addresses its site and panoramic views with southern passive solar and view-oriented, full-height glass window walls. With natural cedar exteriors and ultramodern fixtures and finishes throughout, the residence was planned with sustainable technology and materials, FPSF foundations to eliminate frost wall excavation, super-insulated panelized- and truss-frame construction, and insulated fiberglass doors and windows.

The 2700 sf house was a prototype for Mr. March's development venture designs and features cove-lit, open living plan, state-of-the-art kitchen, four bedrooms, 2-1/2 baths including master bath with whirlpool, two wood-burning fireplaces, laundry, radiant floor heating systems, covered porch and roof deck for outdoor entertaining.

Architecture, Interiors and General Contracting by Hal March Associates