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Searl Lamaster Howe

Searl Lamaster Howe

Chicago, IL

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Harbert Cottage

A desire to clearly express the beauty of simple honest construction and basic materials characterizes this gut renovation of a 1950's ranch house in a lakeside Michigan community. Exposed wood trusses, polished concrete floors, zinc coated walls and roofing, galvanized metal grating, and white stucco are offset by crimson red casement windows.  A screened porch - the epicenter of this summer home - distinguishes the street side facade and provides a direct connection to the gardens surrounding the house.  A geothermal well feeds a radiant heating system embedded in the floor.  Structurally insulated panels fabricated offsite provide a superior level of thermal protection.  Local sourcing was used whenever possible for supplies including the windows, cabinetry, drywall, concrete block, trusses, and metal work.

 
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Status: Built
Location: Michigan
Firm Role: Architect of Record
Additional Credits: Robert Darras Structural Engineers