The Michigan Lake House Is a Modernist's Take on the Humble Log Cabin

The Michigan Lake House is a woodland home designed by Desai Chia Architecture (in collaboration with Environment Architects) that marries modernist architecture with the natural landscape. The home consists of three offset structures — two sleeping areas and a central living room — arranged with an asymmetric blueprint and materialized in exposed wood beams. The southern end of the house boasts a cantilevered roof that offers unobstructed views of Lake Michigan and brings to mind the style of Le Corbusier.

The exterior of the structure is treated with a traditional Japanese wood charring method called Shou Sugi Ban, which not only enhances the natural texture of the material but also protects it from rotting or bug infestation. The interior cabinetry, flooring, ceiling panels, trim work and custom furniture are made from reclaimed and milled dying ash tree wood for a high-design take on sustainable design.

Take a tour of the exterior and interior of the Michigan Lake House and share your thoughts in the comments below. For more imposing architecture, check out Mário Martins Atelier’s “Casa Elíptica.”