Approaching this house from the road, you can’t help but
notice the dominant gable that signals classic American
shingle style. It is no wonder that principal architect John
DaSilva of Polhemus Savery DaSilva Architects Builders
drew his inspiration directly from past relics, like the famous William G.
Low House of Bristol Rhode Island.
This home’s gable isn’t nearly as long as the Low House’s. It doesn’t have
to be. It shares the spotlight with the house’s other forms.
Visible is the arrow facing up toward the sky, while the entranceway
is situated to the side purposefully. This helps integrate the opposite wing
of the house, which is where the first floor master is located, jutting out
into the yard and commanding views in 180 degrees. In fact, as you move
to that side of the house, the horizontality of the forms there become the
focus and the gable’s authority is minimized.
(Above) The entranceway’s sloping roof accommodates the path one takes
up the stairs to the second floor. (Right) A long window provides light from
the portico while a smaller window peeks in from just outside.
AT HOME ON CAPE C 48 OD • FALL/WINTER 2018