The Building
The Building
The Hostel building is a three story timber framed house, inspired by the Boardman House in Sagus,MA, dated 1678, as well as late medival homes.
The house sits on a granite stone root cellar, built with 40 cubic yards of stones from the property and from the Deer Isle village. The stones were all moved and split on site by the use of hand tools.
Five species of wood have been used in the construction, all of it harvested or gathered from the hostel property or nearby. All the wood work was done with concern for the surrounding life, for example a large percentage of the spruce trees used were already blown down at harvest.
Most of the work has been done using hand tools, an important factor in the process. The idea is not only to have a building that looks in keeping with the period, but also that it is constructed with tools and building techniqes common to that time.
The construction process of that time is also what we today would call "natural building". For example, the house contains passive solar heating and no running water; it will be heated with wood and the cellar will function as winter food storage, all which sums up to a total energy independence.
Last year in September 2007, the timber frame was raised. The entire frame of the house (15x35x3 floors) is traditionally joined with wooden fasteners and in the true traditions of the period, no metal was used in the framing.
This summer we’ll finish the exterior of the house. The north and west facing walls will be shingled with cedar while the south and east facing walls will have a clapboard surface, painted with traditional Swedish red paint.
For the hardware, we’ll have an island blacksmith voluntarily helping us making time true hinges and latches.
With this mix of old English style and natural building methods the hostel will both intrigue, teach and inspire. We hope that all the hard work and energy that has gone in to this project will benefit many people in many ways.
If you're interested in knowing more about this please contact us!
