Perched on a cliff above the shores of Lake Huron, this lakeside retreat and think tank was conceptualized as a place where inspiration would be drawn from engagement with nature. The project is comprised of a primary building rising above the cliff—its wings stretched parallel to the shore—and a beach pavilion nestled within the cliff at the water’s edge. The design achieves the highest level of sustainability, with an emphasis on minimizing the building’s ecological impact over time. The approach to the primary building winds through a 120-acre property along the path of a ravine, past a pond and an apple orchard. The circulation inside the building mimics this meditative path, and every detail is crafted to fit, including millwork and furniture.
Significant research and development were used to create a project that blurs the boundaries between exterior and interior, building and nature, richness and simplicity, traditional material and innovative technologies, to create an oasis for thought and rest.
