Deer Haven

Cascade, Michigan20173,300 square feet

Deer Haven is a 3,000 square foot single-family home envisioned through narrow bars of space that follow the contour of the site. Unfolding to the south, the home takes advantage of the sun’s daily path and the site’s natural air movements.

Overview

Nestled into a wooded one-acre setting, the home carefully occupies the space between the ground and the tree canopy, serving to connect the occupants to both through extensions of the ground plane and manipulation of clerestory light.

On the main level, horizontal space is extended into the rear landscape using cedar ceilings that continue into a deep exterior overhang and trellis, further connecting the home to surrounding nature. The expansive windows have a dark finish, articulating an intimate relationship with the trees through intentional positioning intended to enhance the ever-changing perspective of the occupant. Public spaces on the main level are organized in a way that allows occupants to naturally follow the path of the sun throughout the course of the day.

Photographer

Jason Keen

Playful roof forms characterize the upper level with sloped ceilings and deep overhangs, resulting in heightened awareness of the tree canopy and sky through varied spatial, lighting, and viewing conditions from each interior space. Attention has been paid to providing cross-ventilation throughout the home, including a two-story shaft of space along the south-facing window wall to allow for natural stack-effect air movement.

Deer Haven is deeply rooted in sustainability, from its placement and orientation to its coordinated assemblies and systems. This includes the residence’s participation in the Experimental Advanced Renewal Program that allows the energy produced by the solar array to be purchased directly by Consumers Energy and put back into the grid. Half of the main level floor is structural concrete slab-on-grade for thermal mass and the flat roof over the kitchen has a live green roof tray system, installed for thermal mass and to control water runoff.