{"id":22582,"date":"2023-10-23T08:46:27","date_gmt":"2023-10-23T13:46:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/?p=22582"},"modified":"2024-08-28T13:47:28","modified_gmt":"2024-08-28T18:47:28","slug":"stark-beauty-a-charred-cedar-home-honors-its-lake-michigan-landscape","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/lifestyles\/stark-beauty-a-charred-cedar-home-honors-its-lake-michigan-landscape","title":{"rendered":"Stark Beauty: A Charred Cedar Home Honors Its Lake Michigan Landscape"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span>Estimated reading time: <\/span>8<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"exterior<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Architecture:<\/em> Desai Chia Architecture PC<\/a>, New York, NY, and Environment Architects<\/a>, Traverse City, MI
Landscape Architecture: <\/em>Tim Kirby, Surfacedesign, Inc<\/a>., San Francisco, CA
Custom Furniture and Cabinetry:<\/em> Woodbine Inc., Suttons Bay, MI (231) 271-3998
Photography: <\/em>Paul Warchol, Paul Warchol Photography<\/a>, Erwinna, PA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Perched on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan, this sublime charred cedar-clad home on the northern end of the Leelanau Peninsula sits in an enviable position between the shoreline and an old cherry farm. The 17-acre property stretches across a forested swath believed to have been left in place by the original cherry farmers to buffer water spray and lake winds from the orchard grounds. But for a modern Detroit family of five who love to cook and enjoy time together\u2014yet also appreciate quiet time alone\u2014these storied grounds became the preferred site for their lakeside refuge and an homage to the wooded landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Designed in collaboration with Desai Chia Architecture PC<\/a>, based in New York City, and Environment Architects<\/a> of Traverse City, MI, the dwelling forms a 4,800-square-foot assemblage of three offset structures that play off each other in the most organic fashion. “The gathering structure contains the living room, kitchen, and a covered ‘vista’ seating terrace,” says Katherine Chia, FAIA<\/a>, a founding principal at Desai Chia Architecture, who, with fellow firm principal Arjun Desai partnered with an architectural team that included Ray Kendra, AIA<\/a>, principal at Environment Architects. “The two ‘sleeping’ structures house the primary bedroom suite and three bedrooms for the couple’s grown children.\u00a0A dining area breezeway connects all three structures for a seamless flow.”\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preserving the Past<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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By employing a technique called shou sugi ban<\/em>\u2014a traditional Japanese method of charring wood so it becomes rot-resistant and bug-resistant\u2014the architectural team and homeowners clad the home’s exterior in charred cedar. The preferred material for charring, cedar is a resilient and porous softwood that can withstand the burning process that, in turn, produces incredible longevity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“That level of durability and resiliency was very attractive to us and our clients,” notes Katherine. “At the time we were considering shou sugi ban<\/em>, the technique had not been widely used in the U.S. En route to another project in Singapore, we traveled to Kyoto, Japan, to see historic tea houses with shou sugi ban<\/em> facades that were still in great shape. We also realized the climate of Kyoto had similarities to that of the Leelanau Peninsula, so we could see that shou sugi ban<\/em> holds up well in regions that are seasonally impacted by snow and driving rain.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The material’s durability was a crucial characteristic, but the team also loved the appearance of the exposed charred surface. The texture and modulation enhance the shadows across the facade as the sun rises and sets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Legacy of the Land<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Years before the build, Northern Michigan had been afflicted with an infestation of Emerald ash borer beetles that killed off numerous ash trees in the region. The owners’ site was no exception, and there were many dying trees on the property that the beetles had infected. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We wanted to think of a way to honor the legacy of these old-growth trees and imbue the new house with the memory of the historic forests that thrived around the peninsula,” says Katherine. “We reclaimed the dying ash trees from the site and milled them down for interior cabinetry, flooring, ceiling panels, trim work, and custom furniture throughout the house.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A fireplace designed by Desai Chia anchors the living area, providing a stunning focal point for the wooded landscape beyond. The living space opens onto a kitchen fit for multiple chefs, where Basaltina<\/a> countertops complement the natural woods applied throughout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Undulating Roofscape<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Undulating<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The roofscape has gentle undulations that follow the movement of the natural terrain and make a playful reference to the vernacular architecture of nearby fishing villages. “Those historic fishing villages are made up of a cluster of buildings, each with a function or purpose in the community related to retail and commercial industries that have evolved over time,” Katherine notes. “We considered these as a community of buildings that relate and talk<\/em> to each other, with the spaces in between and their forms essential to shape the architectural features of the place.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For this lakeside dwelling, the team took clues from the vernacular architecture and played with inverting the roof forms\u2014a performative as well as aesthetic move. “The inverted roof forms allowed us to capture rainwater and divert it away from the erosion-prone bluff that leads to the lake,” she adds. “Scuppers on the roof collect rainwater, allow for drainage, and assist with erosion control around the site. We had seen the effects of erosion along the bluffs and cliffs of Lake Michigan during several walks around the shoreline, and we wanted this new house to be a steward of the environment and protect the bluffs from further degradation.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The home’s undulating roof, composed of exposed wood beams and plywood sheathing, references the rolling terrain. An outdoor fireplace clad in Cor-Ten-Steel<\/a> echoes the interior fireplace of the same material, as well as some of the window surrounds and cladding for the garage door and chimney. Sleek Finn Collection lounge chairs from Design Within Reach<\/a> align with the home’s clean aesthetic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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