RESIDENTIAL
Private Lake House
Union Pier, MI
Located on Lake Michigan, this 6,000 square-foot lakehouse is designed for its spectacular views and natural setting. The lakeside facade is nearly all glass with fluid indoor-outdoor space, capturing light from sunrise to sunset. The streetside is clad in wood to reflect the wooded landscape.
Designed for multi generations to enjoy time together, the home accommodates modern living and a range of mobilities. The generous second floor landing features gallery space where clerestory windows provide diffuse light for artwork. The third floor— fondly referred to as “the treehouse” set in the crown of a large cottonwood tree—hosts a large indoor entertainment space that opens to a rooftop deck for beautiful sunsets. From the outdoor patio, a footpath winds its way to a beach box–an upcycled shipping container. The converted container is set into the hill where it disappears from the view above, and the house similarly disappears in the grasses and trees from the beach below.
The steel structure allows volumes to overlap and cantilever for best views from anywhere in the house. The long spans also allow seamless connections that meld indoor and outdoor space with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors. Prefabricated insulated panels add energy and acoustic performance where it’s needed most, and wood siding gives warmth and texture to the modern aesthetic.
