A Victorian Conservatory in Kittery Point, ME

This elegant Victorian conservatory was designed and built for clients in Kittery Point, Maine a few years ago. The project site – Kittery Junction – offered special interest as it was originally constructed by the York Harbor & Beach Railroad Co. in the late 1800s. Providing freight and passenger service between York Beach, Maine and Portsmouth, New Hampshire, this train station represents a small but important piece of local history, and we were thrilled by the opportunity to enhance it with one of our custom glass structures. To achieve this goal, we worked alongside local architect Anne Whitney. George Derby served as the general contractor.

The private owners came to Sunspace with the goal of introducing a Victorian conservatory expansion which would flow out of a bedroom on the side of the structure facing a nearby pond. We built this conservatory using solid conventional walls and customized Marvin window units. The roof is a shop-built glass conservatory roof system framed in mahogany to create a dramatic octagonal design. By building the roof unit in the shop and subsequently transporting it to the site, we were able to reduce construction time on the project. Fiberglass R-21 insulation in the walls and low-e sun control properties in the roof glass ensure the space’s thermal performance across all seasons. Here’s how it all came together:

An engineered drawing of the Victorian conservatory.
This elevation provides an idea of what the finished result will look like.

A look at the privately-owned train station before the start of construction.

A “before” photo showing a clear view of the nearby body of water.

The team has begun putting up the conventionally constructed walls for the new conservatory.

The ridge beam is in place.

We developed this complex octagonal glass roof frame in the shop and transported it to the job site.

The team prepares the mahogany roof frame for the crane operator.

As the crane operator lifts the conservatory roof frame, steady hands guide it into position.

We’ve got a perfect fit!

A look at the kingpost from the conservatory space’s interior.

A closer look at the center of the conservatory’s roof frame.

The crew has begun installing window units in the conventionally constructed walls.

Glass units have been installed.
The conservatory’s glass roof is taking shape!

We’ve begun adding the copper.

Work on the roof continues.

This exterior shot shows the crew hard at work on the scaffolding.
The conservatory is coming together.

With the copper in place, the conservatory’s octagonal roof frame looks stunning.

A view of the finished roof from the interior.
Detailing is complete.

Finishing touches await, but the conservatory’s exterior is a perfect match with the existing structure.

The finished conservatory provides the owners with a perfect view from the comfort of the bedroom.

Our team is capable of designing any glass space, skylight, enclosure, or home addition to meet your needs and match the existing look and feel of your structure. From classical Victorian designs to modern spaces, the Sunspace Design team is able to translate your concepts into buildable plans. We’ll be in constant contact throughout the construction process so that your every question is answered and your every concern addressed. You can reach us via phone at 1-800-530-2505 or via email at info@sunspacedesign.com. You can also use our convenient contact form if you’d like to submit information about a possible project you’ve been dreaming up. Are you ready to let the light in? We’re here to help.