| Appearing to float on its own, the rear deck belies the high-degree of engineering that went into its design. Evening illumination reveals how the living areas are virtually surrounded by windows, another "prairie" feature that places the emphasis on visual bands of glass in order to encourage the intermingling of indoor and outdoor spaces.
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When prospective clients approached him with plans in hand and a tricky site in mind for this classic, 8500-square-foot prairie-style residence, custom builder Scott Christopher found himself intrigued by the proposed homeÆs unique style and the construction challenges that it presented.
Christopher was undaunted by the uneven, rocky terrain of the clientÆs cul-de-sac lot, even though several other builders had already turned the project down. Although heÆd never built this style of home before, the high degree of detail incorporated into the homeÆs design didnÆt dampen his enthusiasm for the project.
ChristopherÆs experience with difficult sites is considerable. More than half of his Sparta, Mich.-based residential construction and renovation companyÆs projects are located along Lake MichiganÆs eastern shoreline where erosion, unstable soils and heavy lake effect snowfalls are factors that a builder must regularly contend with.
| With its genesis on the lowest level of the house, a massive central fireplace (right) rises up through the heart of the home, providing the owners with five distinct fireplaces along the way. Constructed of the same brick as that used on the exterior, this fireplace provides a work of art focal point in the formal living room.
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"It takes a special kind of builder to take on a project like this," says architect William Gilmore, who designed the home. Gilmore credits Christopher and his skilled crew for the overwhelmingly successful execution of his design.
Although the home took two years to complete, Christopher says this is not unusual for a home of this high caliber."It is as pure æprairieÆ as you can get," he says,"and a one-of-a-kind style for the area." The home is located in an upscale development in Grand Rapids, Mich.
The homesite itself features numerous stands of mature oak and maple trees that the clients wanted to preserve for both environmental and aesthetic reasons."We worked very hard to preserve the natural vegetation," says Christopher. Before construction began, he says, the entire home was staked out."We were then able to get together with the clients and decide which existing trees were most important to be saved and where adjustments could be made."
The heavily wooded site also gives the homeowners a lot of privacy, says Christopher."When youÆre inside, you feel like youÆre in a tree house."
Several large retaining walls were necessary to stabilize the sloped, rocky terrain surrounding the home. Branching off from the foundation in two directions, the retaining walls create exterior concrete paver terraces that complement the homeÆs brick and redwood exterior.
| Shown from another angle, the living room perimeter is literally encircled by windows that reveal the homeÆs wooded surroundings. Baseboards, for example, are mitered to flow right into the door casings.
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Another challenging aspect of this homeÆs design, according to Christopher, was its massive amount of exterior glass."Although there arenÆt a lot of volume spaces in the home, it has a tremendous amount of glass," he says. "When you look closely at the plan, thereÆs actually very little outside wall space." A combination of wood and steel construction gives the home a high degree of structural strength, making elements such as its dramatic cantilevers possible.
The home features a classic "cruciform" footprint with its living space radiating out from a center point in three directions. The fourth leg of the cross includes the attached, three-car garage. True to its prairie heritage, the home features a massive, central chimney that provides the living space with five fireplaces.
The family-friendly floor plan features living space on three levels and includes a well-balanced mix of formal and informal areas. The below-grade lower level features a spacious central sitting area and family room. A glass-enclosed atrium provides the base for a dramatic two-story light well that features mitered-glass corner windows. This level also includes a home office, guest room, exercise room and a hobby room that will eventually contain a golf simulator.
The formal dining room serves as the hub for the homeÆs main floor living space. A screen of wood shutters defines this space from the entry vestibule. The living room, secondary bedrooms and kitchen are also featured on this level.
| The formal dining room forms the core of the homeÆs cruciform floor plan. A screen of wood shutters creates a sense of transition between the entry vestibule and this key entertaining area, allowing light and sound to penetrate the space without fully revealing it from other areas of the home.
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The master suite occupies the entire top floor of the house and includes its own fireplace, built-in cabinetry, a private bath, walk-in closet and deck. Gilmore calls the master suite"the jewel of the house." From the exterior, one can easily imagine that this private retreat, encircled by windows, really does resemble a gemstone in an intricate setting. The home was completed in Spring 2000.
Features:
Builder: Scott Christopher Inc., Sparta, Mich.
Architectural Drawings: William Gilmore, Midland, Mich.
Interior Design: Dimitrios Economides, East Lansing, Mich.
Major Products Used:
Appliances: Sub-Zero; Viking; Bosch
Cabinetry: Custom
Countertops: Granite; Tile; Formica
Doors: Custom
Exterior: Brick; Redwood
Fireplace: Brick
Flooring: Tile; Carpet; Brick
HVAC: Winsboro
Plumbing Fixtures: Kohler
Roofing: Asphalt
Windows: Marvin; Custom
Roof Vent: Cor-A-Vent, Inc.
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