Set on a wooded lot, about 300 feet back from a well-traveled road in Falmouth, Maine, the goal was to design a house for a growing family in such a way as to provide plenty of space as well as maximum value. The concept was to emulate the feel of an old rural board-and-batten barn that looked as though it had always been there, but had been recently renovated - with some large glass, modern amenities and an added layer of contemporary architectural character. The owners had recently salvaged some of the remaining timbers of a vintage 1700's barn for reuse in the new space. The owner was to act as general contractor. The footprint is essentially a square, based on a 4 foot module - very simple, but utilizing maximum spans of standard lumber. There are four levels in all, including a walkout basement and a finished loft that overlooks the main space. All possible volume is used. The original beams and columns have been exposed and reveal the working structure of the new living barn. The large sliding door over the large south glass expanse is made out of just boards, no battens, allowing the light to stream through the batten spaces when closed in summer to give the dramatic feel of the sun entering the shrunken boards of an old barn. Steel cables and oversized double hung windows, as well as the interior volume and a few dramatic structural moves (cantilevers, suspended overhangs) give it a distinctly contemporary flair. The final cost per square foot was well under $100.