"The house is about 30 feet from the lake's shore; the photographer practically had his feet in the water when he took this shot," Finne says.
A 40-foot-long glass wall allows expansive views of Lake Superior and its rocky coastline. "We had the Marvin windows supplied and installed by a great outfit, St. George Glass," Finne says. "They do a lot of commercial storefronts, so our glass wall did not faze them."
by FINNE Architects
A 40-foot-long glass wall allows expansive views of Lake Superior and its rocky coastline. "We had the Marvin windows supplied and installed by a great outfit, St. George Glass," Finne says. "They do a lot of commercial storefronts, so our glass wall did not faze them."
Lake Superior has a dramatic rocky coastline. If you look closely, you can see the old cabin about 75 feet from the new house, toward the left side of the red circle. The structure right outside the circle is the garage.
Houzz Tour: Cabin Perched Above Lake Superior
Finne went with an elemental approach to the structure and layout that kept framing costs down. The home is made up of two simple volumes: the main living spaces (foreground) and a bedroom tower (background).
Overhangs protect the entryways from snow sliding off the roof and the interiors from direct sunlight. A Montana ledgestone chimney ties in to the coast.
Instead of using much costlier natural zinc siding, Finne chose corrugated steel with a baked-on zinc color. "Instead of looking painted on, this finish has a metallic look," he says.
Siding: Nu Wave corrugated steel in Zactrique II color
by FINNE Architects Overhangs protect the entryways from snow sliding off the roof and the interiors from direct sunlight. A Montana ledgestone chimney ties in to the coast.
Instead of using much costlier natural zinc siding, Finne chose corrugated steel with a baked-on zinc color. "Instead of looking painted on, this finish has a metallic look," he says.
Siding: Nu Wave corrugated steel in Zactrique II color
"Building in the woods has its own set of peculiarities," Finne says. "For instance, there are ferocious woodpeckers that try to attack the corrugated metal siding." The siding had to be specially sealed to keep other woodsy creepy-crawlies from getting into the corrugations.
Building along the coastline also has its peculiarities, including strict setback requirements. "The foundation is right at the required setback from the shoreline," Finne says. "By cantilevering the main living space out over the land, we were able to get 5 feet closer to the shoreline."
by FINNE Architects Building along the coastline also has its peculiarities, including strict setback requirements. "The foundation is right at the required setback from the shoreline," Finne says. "By cantilevering the main living space out over the land, we were able to get 5 feet closer to the shoreline."
Bugs are an element in the woods, which is why you don't see large decks here. "Instead of adding decks where the family would be eaten alive, the main living space and its operable windows can serve as one large screened-in porch," Finne says.
He sourced the wood from a mill down the road. The floors are native Michigan maple; the paneling, birch. Fir rafters across fir tongue and groove panels make up the ceiling.
by FINNE Architects He sourced the wood from a mill down the road. The floors are native Michigan maple; the paneling, birch. Fir rafters across fir tongue and groove panels make up the ceiling.
Finne likes to create custom furniture and lighting pieces for the homes he designs. "Most of the lines throughout the space are quite rectilinear; I wanted to bring a softness to the space with some curves," he says. "Together this dining table, the kitchen island and the bar form a series of curves echoing within the rectilinear space."
by FINNE Architects
Sinuous bars on the custom light fixtures provide another series of curves overhead.
The cabinets are Plyboo, an FSC-certified bamboo product. Finne added sapele end panels to pick up on the sapele dining table (sapele and mahogany are in the same family; today sapele is much more widely available and a good mahogany substitute). A local craftsman, Al Taylor, did such a spectacular job on all of the custom woodwork that Finne now uses him to do work for his projects all over the country. "Forget outsourcing overseas; we should be outsourcing to Michigan," Finne says.
Cabinets: custom by Al Taylor, Taylor Made Furniture in Marquette, Michigan; light fabrication, custom by Matt Shoudy, Illume; countertops: Corian
by FINNE Architects The cabinets are Plyboo, an FSC-certified bamboo product. Finne added sapele end panels to pick up on the sapele dining table (sapele and mahogany are in the same family; today sapele is much more widely available and a good mahogany substitute). A local craftsman, Al Taylor, did such a spectacular job on all of the custom woodwork that Finne now uses him to do work for his projects all over the country. "Forget outsourcing overseas; we should be outsourcing to Michigan," Finne says.
Cabinets: custom by Al Taylor, Taylor Made Furniture in Marquette, Michigan; light fabrication, custom by Matt Shoudy, Illume; countertops: Corian
Finne also custom designed a sinuous custom room screen between the front door and the living area. "It forms a defined entry space without interrupting the flow of the main room," he describes.
Tripod lamp, sofa, chair: Design Within Reach; coffee table: custom by Finne
by FINNE Architects Tripod lamp, sofa, chair: Design Within Reach; coffee table: custom by Finne
The screen is a combination of maple wood and steel. Blackened steel accents are another element that provide continuity throughout the house.
The screen is toed into plates on the floor to keep it from toppling over.
by FINNE Architects
The screen is toed into plates on the floor to keep it from toppling over.
Finne also designed this custom coffee table for the living area; it creates continuity with the other sapele pieces used throughout the first floor.
by FINNE Architects
Finne placed the master bedroom in the top of the tower, creating an aerie-like perch in the trees. It is open to the main living space below and enjoys spectacular lake views, but is also made cozy by well-placed tongue and groove birch paneling.
"Most of the wood we used throughout the house is grade-D quality," Finne says. "Usually I'd go for something more consistent, but my clients kept telling me, 'It's just a simple cabin!'"
by FINNE Architects
"Most of the wood we used throughout the house is grade-D quality," Finne says. "Usually I'd go for something more consistent, but my clients kept telling me, 'It's just a simple cabin!'"
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I do agree with aeykelbo, but only because the lakeside faces north. If it faced south, the heat gain from the sunlight would probably compensate the lower insulation value of the glass. Normally, a sunless facade has to be solid in a cold climate. But who would not want to open a house up to that beautiful view?
These are things I learned from friends who live in northern Finland. They know how to deal with long and biting cold winters. Good luck with your fixer-upper!
I am in awe!