The clients wanted a modern, streamlined cabin to escape the big city and retreat to nature, and this project captures this desire to focus on the beauty of the existing site. The house frames the breathtaking views of the lake with simple forms that prioritize their surroundings. These forms are two main volumes, connected by a double entry space along with a detached garage; one side is the sleeping quarters and bathrooms while the other is the kitchen/living/dining room, separating the public space from private areas. On the interior, plywood walls and ceilings are a warm and visually interesting choice, while the floor is modern and comfortable concrete with in-floor heating. Weathering steel wraps the boxes for a striking exterior.
As it's located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on Lake Superior, the cabin needs to handle the harshest of environments. Elevating the spaces on the concrete foundation captures views and increases its ability to handle the large amounts of snowfall as well as the springtime melt. The house is pulled away from the shoreline to blend into the landscape and maintain the existing natural beauty of the site.