Residence

May 9, 2019

Design Insights: Romence House

The owner was able to secure a serene vacant lot in an established neighborhood in the City of Grand Rapids, which backs on to a beautiful wooded parcel to the north. The goal of the project was first and foremost to design a home that met contextual needs from the street-side, but took full advantage of the unique natural setting in the rear. MMA saw the opportunity for horizontal extension of the residence to quiet the home and ground it into its surroundings, and in so doing maximize rear courtyard space for a homeowner who has long term permaculture aspirations. A detached garage was used to take full advantage of side-setback requirements. Additionally, the garage completes the open courtyard and creates an open moment of outdoor reception to the secluded outdoor space. The L-shaped plan form created a simple diagram for living–a public arm of space that includes the mudroom, kitchen, dining, and living room, then a private arm of space with office, bedrooms and bathrooms. To accentuate the difference in use and experience, a 12 ft high wood ceiling space covers the public area, allowing ample clerestory light, while a lower ceiling provides intimacy, punctuated by skylights, in the […]

December 9, 2017

Dwell Names Deer Haven House “Best Modern Home”

Dwell editors chose MMA's Deer Haven House as a "Best Modern Home".

Deer Haven House is located in Grand Rapids, MI and was build for a busy, growing family of five. It is a 3,000 sq ft home conceived as a narrow bars of space that follow and step down with the subtle contours of the site and unfold to the South to take advantage of the daily path of the sun and natural site air movements. Nestled into its wooded 1-acre setting, the building carefully occupies the space between the ground and the tree canopy with an unfolding spatial sequence that connects the occupants to both through extensions of the ground plane and manipulation of clerestory light.

November 14, 2017

Houzz Tour: A Fresh Look for a Modern Gem in Michigan

MMA was recently featured on Houzz for their midcentury modern renovation in Kalamazoo, Michigan. See before and after project photos and more information.

Houzz Tour: A Fresh Look for a Modern Gem in Michigan
A new black exterior, a streamlined kitchen and white oak floors bring this 1970s home up to speed

When a young professional couple returned to their hometown of Kalamazoo, Michigan, to be closer to their parents as they started their own family, they found a 1971 architect-designed home for sale by the original owner. While the home had been well-cared-for, the gray, cedar-clad exterior was crowded in by overgrown vegetation and a chain-link fence.

Today, the new landscape and Cor-Ten steel walls around the house allow “the building to express its elegant architecture,” says architect Evan T. Mathison. A new coat of chic black paint covers the old stained gray cedar siding.

October 30, 2017

Residential Architecture Award

We are honored to accept the AIA Grand Rapids award for Residential Architecture for our Berkshire Residence!

Check out more information and photos of the project.

August 16, 2017

Houzz Feature: Berkshire Residence Pool

MMA was recently featured on Houzz for the pool in a new construction home in the Berkshire Mountains. See project photos and more information.

100 Sparkling Pools With Postcard Views
Take in these photos of pristine pools around the world set in gorgeous landscapes

What’s better than a sparkling pool with a postcard view? How about 100 sparkling pools with postcard views? Take a tour around the world with some of the most stunning poolside settings on Houzz. Click the first image to enlarge the photo, then use the right arrow to see the photos in slide-show format. Once you feel fully refreshed, tell us in the Comments which is your favorite.