This home is designed for twenty acres of rolling grassland and woods near the shore of Lake Michigan.  The rustic modern concept emerged from the client's interest in designing a contemporary home with an expressive mix of reclaimed and traditional elements.  Program requirements include great room with double height space, two ensuite bedrooms, art studio, garage, and an elevated terrace with pool. 

The minimalist form of the home is derived from classic barn typology.  The linear design allows the home to be strategically positioned on the site to maximize southern exposure for passive solar heating and cooling.  The great room is located at the western end of the home to capture afternoon light and overlooks the pool and grasslands.  Vaulted ceilings in the master bedroom and studio receive natural light through oversized ridge skylights. 

An exterior portal at the center of the structure provides a covered entrance to the home while creating an outdoor foyer with framed views. The portal functions as a dramatic passageway to a deck with free-standing outdoor fireplace.

Contemporary materials include board-formed concrete, marine plywood floors and walls, and exposed wood trusses.  Vintage elements, reclaimed from a local salvage company, include 100-year old doors, a wood workbench as the kitchen island, and a steel factory table as a bathroom vanity.  Sustainable elements include renewable materials, recycled Paperstone countertops, passive heating and cooling, cross-flow ventilation, high-efficiency mechanicals and radiant floors, windows with low-E glass, and structurally insulated panel (SIP) construction for a highly insulated building envelope.