Lower Shore Residence

a modern beach house

For a couple that loves outdoor activities and hosting large gatherings, this modern home is designed to accommodate their lifestyle and be a launchpad for adventures into northern Michigan. The Lake Michigan side of the home, opens wide as living spaces are lined with glass that pulls in light, water, and horizon, making the lake feel close and constant. Along the road, the home is reserved, defined by solid walls. A band of high, clerestory windows let in soft light while keeping the interior calm and private.

Located on a rugged beach site on Lake Michigan’s northern shore, views and interaction with the lake are critical.

The home is organized into 3 distinct zones – public, private, and support. A four season room, living, dining and two fireplaces are the core of the public program spaces for this home. With careful use of solid and transparency, the living spaces are only revealed to guests upon entry into this home though.

Window Wall

An expansive window wall is the defining element of the living area. Only broken by the concrete fireplace, the window wall allows abundant natural light into the kitchen, living, and dining. Outboard steel structure allows the window system to run uninterrupted floor to ceiling, wall to wall.

Living Outside Year Round

The core of the home is designed around a 4-season room which holds one of the two monolithic poured concrete fireplaces. This space was designed with flexibility of being open to the interior of the home, the exterior of the home, or both depending on the season or the weather. Exposed glulam beams provide the roof structure and a subtle consistent rhythm to the home.

“We designed the Lower Shore Residence to live in constant dialogue with Lake Michigan. Light, material, and proportion are carefully composed to heighten awareness of the shoreline, allowing daily life to unfold in rhythm with its surroundings.”

Eric De Witt, Principal

Site Strategy

Stretching along the rugged shoreline of Lake Michigan, the layout of the Lower Shore Residence is designed to maximize interaction between the home the water. The living spaces are wrapped in a window wall on the lake side, and shielded from the road by solid walls with high clerestory windows for privacy. The glass box living areas are anchored on each end by monolithic cast-in-place concrete fireplaces. Between the living and sleeping spaces is a four season room that anchors the middle of the home.