Sea Change, Historic residential estate in Northeast Harbor, Maine
Sea Change is a residential compound on Maine's coast featuring a main residence in the International style, three supporting buildings in the Shingle style, and a converted carriage house. All structures sit on a property along Corning Way and display a carefully planned architectural composition with clean geometric forms and functional design.
Merchant William A. M. Burden purchased the property in 1939 and commissioned renowned architects Wallace K. Harrison and artist Isamu Noguchi to design the main residence, completed in 1947. The building emerged during the interwar period and influenced the development of modern residential design on America's East Coast.
The name Sea Change draws from Shakespeare's The Tempest, referring to transformation by the sea. The mix of clean modern lines and traditional wooden buildings creates a distinct character adapted to Maine's coastal landscape.
The estate sits in a quiet residential area by the coast and is surrounded by nature, allowing for a relaxed exploration. Visitors should expect that outdoor areas can be slippery during rain or damp weather, so sturdy footwear is recommended.
An underground atomic shelter built under the estate during the Cold War in the early 1960s offers space for 24 people. After a major fire in 1999, the main residence underwent complete restoration in 2005 using original architectural plans to recover its historical authenticity.
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