CITATION OF MERIT
DISTINGUISHED BUILDING
Bridgman, Michigan
| Architect: | Nagle Hartray Danker Kagan McKay Architects Planners Ltd. |
| Client/Owner: | name withheld |
| General Contractor: | Michigan City Associates Inc |
| Consultants: | Beer, Gorski & Graff Ltd. |
| Photographer: | Bruce Van Inwegen |
This three-story home stretches across the crest of a dune that overlooks Lake Michigan, covering a distance of some 200 feet. The main level at the top of the outdoor stairway contains the living, dining, kitchen, deck and screen porch spaces. From the entry, the circulation flows behind the raised family kitchen, under the bridge, and into the living room which overlooks the lake. The childrens' quarters are below; the parents' quarters are above.
Horizontal clear cedar siding, metal railings, cedar decks and articulated sunscreens all accentuate the structure's linearity. Lightly stacked screen porches and a roof terrace engage the solid volumes. Plank floors, wood detailing and maple cabinets and trim contrast with the white plaster walls and ceilings. Both in its details and in its relationship to its hilltop site, this house employs the art of juxtaposition. This sometimes unpredictable residence honors nature not by blending with it, but by gracefully abutting it.
