In one of the most extraordinary settings on Rockport Harbor, 1 Ship Street is a private harbor front enclave with two year-round residences, a private, sandy beach, terraced gardens, and sweeping views across the water to Indian Island Lighthouse and beyond to Penobscot Bay and its islands. The property combines architectural distinction, rare waterfront amenities, and an intimate sense of privacy at the end of a dead-end street, all in the harbor Charles Kuralt once called “the most perfect small harbor in America.” Together, the main house and beach house offer flexible accommodations for family and guests, with the potential to sleep up to eight in a setting that feels private, relaxed, and deeply connected to the beach and harbor.
Set to the sound of waves along the shore and boats shifting gently in the harbor, Ship Street captures the movement, light, and life of the Maine coast in a way that feels both serene and joyful. Sailboats, powerboats, and lobster boats animate the harbor throughout the day, while changing sun, passing clouds, summer showers, and frequent rainbows create an ever-changing panorama just outside the windows. Osprey return each spring to nest near the beach, raising their young in full view of the property, while mallards, Canada geese, buffleheads, cormorants, and herons add to the remarkable natural theater of this harborside setting.
The main residence is a striking modern interpretation of a classic New England waterfront home, inspired by the owners’ long admiration for renowned American architect Hugh Newell Jacobsen. Known for his signature minimalist style and crisp reinterpretation of traditional forms, Jacobsen created houses of elegant restraint, clarity, and permanence. At Ship Street, that influence is expressed in a way that feels especially suited to Rockport Harbor, with clean lines, light-filled interiors, and a design that honors the familiar architecture of coastal New England while presenting it with fresh, sophisticated simplicity.
Authentic Hugh Newell Jacobsen Residence
- Two white, two-story gables sit side by side, joined by a vivid blue door, creating an exterior that is both timeless and distinctly modern.
- Inside, high ceilings, clean planes, flush finishes, minimal trim, and careful details create a calm, graceful interior, while expansive windows bring the harbor, beach, and gardens into daily life.
- The open main floor is designed for effortless living and entertaining, with floor-to-ceiling windows, a streamlined gourmet kitchen, and doors opening to a generous waterside balcony edged by an almost invisible frameless glass railing.
- The living room, with its vaulted ceiling and propane fireplace, offers a beautiful gathering space for family and friends, along with a comfortable retreat for quiet evenings by the fire.
- Thoughtful custom details add both elegance and discretion, including a hidden bar, built-in bookcase, and a concealed television mounted behind custom artwork above the fireplace.
- The lower level contains two private bedroom suites, each with an en-suite bath and generous closet space. The primary suite is especially luxurious, with a propane fireplace, a concealed television, and a spa-like bath featuring a sunken soaking tub with massaging air jets, a two-person walk-in shower, and a sauna.
Beach House / Guest Cottage
- Adding greatly to the property’s appeal is the charming year-round beach house at the water’s edge.
- Originally a boat-repair shop dating to the 1940s, it now serves as a cozy harborside retreat with an open main floor and a Pullman kitchen, two upstairs bedrooms, a full bath, and a lower-level half bath.
Property
- The private sandy beach is one of the property’s defining features and an exceptionally rare amenity on Rockport Harbor. Just steps from the beach house, it creates an inviting place for swimming, launching small watercraft, gathering by the water, beach fires, or simply watching the harbor activity unfold.
- A hot-and-cold outdoor shower and beachside storage shed support easy days on the sand and water.
- Designed in collaboration with Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design, the grounds include terraced gardens, elegant stonework, mature flowering shrubs, sun-filled lawn areas, and stone steps that meander through the hillside toward the shore.
- A versatile three-bay garage provides excellent space for vehicles, storage, a workshop, or a classic automobile collection, with a large second floor above.
