Campground Restoration

The Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association is a National Historic Landmark. Each cottage is a capsule of living history, many still unchanged since the early 19th C. Working in close collaboration with the owners – an architect and a landscape designer from Austin, TX – this historic preservation project was as challenging as it was just plain FUN. Working on a lot roughly the size of the building’s footprint, the new foundation needed to be dug by hand. This careful excavation revealed one corner of the home had been supported by an upturned glass bottle, intact and likely in place since Lincoln was President. We wrapped the exterior with insulation and fastidiously reproduced the proportions of the original cladding. Inside, we celebrated in the aesthetic tradition of this national treasure, with bright, glossy, colorful paint.

Charming wooden house with a lush garden featuring daisies and hydrangeas, complete with a small birdbath.
View through arched doorway revealing a cozy room with bookshelves, a green chair, and a wooden desk. Hanging burlap bags are visible on the right wall.
A quaint yellow kitchen with a vintage design features a wooden counter, a retro yellow refrigerator, a sink with a faucet, and open shelving displaying blue and white plates. A watermelon is on the counter, and a decorative wall panel includes more dishware. The room has exposed wood beams painted yellow and a colorful ceiling lamp. A small kitchen island is in the center with a wicker basket underneath and recipe books on the shelf beside it.
Interior of a room with a wall covered in numerous photos and a collection of memorabilia. A blue door is slightly open, revealing another room. A wooden cabinet with various items is placed against the photo-covered wall.
Colorful Victorian-style house with hanging lanterns, American flag, and front garden. Child riding bike in foreground.
Narrow wooden hallway with light blue walls, decorated with a patterned rug. A doorway leads to a bedroom with a chair and a bed. A framed portrait hangs on the wall, and an open door reveals wooden stairs.
Cozy bedroom with wooden walls, a bed with white and blue bedding, a wooden chair, and a framed picture on the wall. The room features a glass door leading to a balcony, floral curtains, and a view of the outdoors.
Front porch of a quaint house with two black rocking chairs and a railing, surrounded by blooming hydrangeas and greenery. The porch features arched wooden doors and windows with detailed trim.

Project type: Private Home

Role: Project Architect in collaboration with Tim Cuppett

Year: 2019

Place: Oak Bluffs Campground

Area: 847 sq ft

Contractor: South Mountain Co.

Photos: Whit Preston