Briarcliff Residence is set on a park-like 3.5 acres in historic Franklin, Michigan. A house in two acts, it balances an elegant form and façade with a dramatic, playful interior—fitting for a private, close-knit family passionate about music and theater.

The home’s design was inspired by the classic form of rural Michigan farmsteads—collections of gabled-roof structures built over generations. These familiar forms connect the home to its historic context but are articulated with contemporary building techniques and innovative detailing.

The home’s functions are separated into four distinct pavilions, connected by flat-roof “bridges”, creating clear separations between private and public zones. The programs of the four pavilions are 1) primary bedroom suite; 2) living and entertaining; 3) private family area; and 4) garage. The largest pavilion (Living and Entertaining) runs side-to-side across the property in an uninterrupted volume that features exposed steel bents, expansive glass looking towards the rear wetlands, and a wall of custom millwork creating privacy from the front yard. Set opposite the expansive glass wall is a thin ribbon of high windows encouraging cross-ventilation across the intentionally narrow space. The pavilion is bookended with striking complementary forms that house, on one end, the hearth, clad in cedar and blued steel, and opposite it, the kitchen, featuring stainless steel counters and panels of emerald green urethane and walnut. Eco-friendly, high-performance Structural Insulated Panels form the roof diaphragm, allowing 12-foot spans between the steel bents without need for rafters or a ridge beam.

On the exterior, all materials were selected for their durability, longevity, and ability to be fully recycled at their end of life. Clear, vertical-grain cedar planks clad the gable ends of each pavilion, accentuating their height and lightness. The naturally rot-resistant cedar is left intentionally unfinished avoiding annual reapplications of stain. The cedar will age with each passing season as the building melds into the landscape. Adjacent to the cedar-clad gable ends, the lower and broad facades are clad in high-density cement fiber panels to ground the building and accentuate the length of these elevations. The cement panels are highly durable, low-maintenance, and have a long lifespan. Moreover, the panels were pre-fabricated so that no on-site waste was generated during their fit and installation. The cement fiber panels meet the cedar planks at a uniquely detailed “eyebrow” that creates a delicate shadow line over the monumental sweep of the gable ends. Both types of cladding are installed as rear-ventilated rainscreen facades, a green building technique that improves energy performance, reduces heating and cooling needs, and increases resistance to moisture and mold growth. Standing-seam steel panels form the pitched roofs giving them a life span of 100 years or more. The panels have a high recycled content and are fully recyclable at the end of their lives. A steep 14/12 pitch ensures that water and snow loads are moving quickly off the building. The flat roofs over the connecting hallways are covered in vegetated trays of native grasses to reduce rainwater runoff, encourage biodiversity, and regulate indoor temperatures. The net effect is a high-performance, low-maintenance structure.

Through a collaborative approach with the landscape architect, the siting of the home was minimally disruptive to the landscape, and in particular creates a feature of a hundred-year-old American Elm and Climbing Hydrangea. Native grasses reduce the need for irrigation, while a crushed gravel driveway and pervious paving reduce rainwater runoff. The home is nestled into the topography, built into knolls, some of which have been “sliced” with Corten steel retaining walls. From the perimeter of the site, the house seems tucked behind rolling hills, while a submerged motor court and Corten-walled walkways face the house. The combined effect is to aid privacy and control road noise while revealing the clients’ whimsy and playfulness as you near the home.

The layout of clustered pavilions creates a sense of the building unfolding as it is experienced. The home's zones were carefully positioned with respect to environmental factors such prevailing winds, seasonal sun angles, and balancing privacy and view. Windows frame views of the beautiful natural setting and other components of the home itself. In this way, the outside is constantly invited into the home, for an ongoing conversation among the modern exterior, the warm interior, and the natural surroundings.

Briarcliff is rooted in the human impact that our buildings have on the environment. Green roofs, a high-performance building envelope, resilient materials, and a deep respect for the landscape are key features of this elegant yet playful home.