pastoral symphony

An unassuming compound of vernacular structures is at one with this tranquil spot in New England.

- JANICE RANDALL ROHLF

When you think about coastal Massachusetts, frenetic summer beach scenes often spring to mind.

But there are some spots, strewn here and there along the ocean, where beauty lies in rolling farmland, crumbling stone walls, and weatherbeaten barns. These tranquil places are removed from the state's popular seaside hubs. The pace is unhurried and the scenery absorbing. This is one of them.

TASKED WITH DESIGNING an all-season retreat perched on a rocky knoll overlooking the water, Kligerman Architecture & Design considered the entrenched agricultural history of the area. Thus, "the design was inspired by old farm buildings," says architect Thomas A. Kligerman. His familiarity with the remote locale and appreciation for its untouched beauty supported his client's objective for unprepossessing spaces at one with nature and the area's culture. Nestled in among glacial erratic boulders and native flora, the new project looks as though it has been knit into the landscape for a long time.