Zen Retreat, Long Island, Casco Bay

Our task was to settle two small buildings into their wooded setting on Long Island in Casco Bay.

Steps connecting to ledge

We added some steps and a few retaining rocks to the existing ledge to provide a natural, but effective way to enter this meditation building.

Groomed woods

Clearing fallen and dead branches from the trees and ground and then lightly raking reveals the contour of the land.

Screening

Cedar posts with short twigs spiraling around them echo the spruce trees whose lower branches die and break off.

Obscuring the view

The purpose of these lines of posts and branches is to act as a light fence, obscuring the view toward the buildings of the retreat area.