V ernacular forms clad in soft, weathering materials with polished black metal windows and doors bridge traditional with modern at this St. Joseph, Mich., beach house. Wheeler Kearns Architects created a street-facing “neighborhood” façade with black steel and punched openings that protect privacy and contrast with floor-to-ceiling glass on the lake side of the house to provide views of nearby Lake Michigan.
Horizontal shiplap wood cladding and cedar shingles on the custom home’s exterior are designed to both protect and weather gracefully against the wind coming off the lake. The architects used an acetylated wood siding due to its improved sustainability, durability, and rot-resistance over other materials.
Inside the home, finer finishes contrast the weathered outside surfaces. The interior flooring features radiant heating to introduce heat into the space more efficiently. Gathering spaces are united by continuous white oak floors, ceiling, and millwork. A suspended steel entry staircase continues the wood trend, carrying white oak treads and a wood-top rail above steel railings. The firm felt the coalesce of wood, glass, and metal infused the home with intimacy and texture.
The home was constructed from wood with prefabricated roof trusses to improve the speed of assembly. The site’s proximity to Lake Michigan provided both constraints and opportunities for the design and architect team. Extensive waterproofing was implemented at the foundation of the home to guard against the possibility of high lake levels in the future. Materials, textures, and methods with proven longevity, good weathering characteristics, and minimal maintenance were selected to combat the harsh winds and weathering.
