The key factor in designing this five-bedroom, summer house for a Midwestern hospital executive and his wife was to maximize the hillside view of Nantucket Town across Nantucket Harbor.  They wanted to locate the Living, Dining, and Kitchen areas on the upper level; uphill neighbors feared it would block their view.

The design manages to elevate the upper floor level while lowering the roof ridge with a pair of parallel gabled roofs that divide the Living room from the Dining and Kitchen by two steps.  The Living has a tray ceiling, while Dining has a rustic, exposed rafter ceiling that extends forward over a screened-in, porch deck. 

The two gables reduce the overall scale and allow for a staggered footprint which positioned the house higher on the hill.  Despite a pressure to flatten the roof pitch, this elemental design strategy maintains desirable, vertical expression.  Extending one gable ahead of the other increases lateral exposures for capturing the view.  Located below the Living room, a private Master bedroom suite has a dedicated porch and enclosed flower garden.  The other bedrooms are located below the Dining and Kitchen areas.  Despite the considerable total size, the design strategy reduces the overall impression with a less imposing, cottage scale and character.