Designing and building on Cape Cod can present a number a challenges.  For instance how do you make a large building that fits in with its surroundings and doesn’t look out of scale, all while meeting the needs of a large business?  In the case of the Stonewood Products building, we do that in a number of ways.  We separated the building mass into two distinct buildings, each with their own volumes but connected inside to maintain a good workflow for the business.  We chose different materials for each building including siding and roofing.  To the eye they read as distinct buildings which helps to control the perception of a smaller building than it’s interior would suggest.  Keeping similar details, such as windows and trim, helps to unify the whole structure so that the two buildings can still relate to each other.

Perspective rendering

Another way to control the amount of mass you see is by adjusting the proportions of the building in order to manipulate how the eye perceives the bulkiness.  In creating the small setback on the front of the building, we were able to control both the height and pitch of the main front gable independent of the width of the building.  The result is a front elevation with much better proportions than if the front were a simple straight gable over the entire front facade.

Stop in to Stonewood on Great Western Road in Harwich, MA to see the building under construction and check out some great stone and flooring while you’re there.