This southwest Michigan residence on four wooded acres was a new construction project for a retired couple, who after downsizing for decades, decided it was time to build a second home that could fit the entire family… grown children, grandkids and all, including a dog!  To accommodate their programmatic needs, JAFFE A+I designed a compound of buildings that checked off all the boxes when it came to activities, fun and, yes, pure craziness, PURE MICHIGAAS!

In keeping with the local barn vernacular, the clients wanted pitched roofs; their desire to have a great room that felt like a screened porch led to the use of simple, gable roofed forms with walls of sliding glass doors to optimize ventilation and views.  JAFFE A+I further employed the gable form for both the 2-story private space and the poolhouse pavilions. The entry to the house is actually the space between the public and private buildings, and the poolhouse doubles as a screened porch with oversized sliding barn doors that, when slid open, reveal large, fully retractable screened panels.

Wherever possible, we followed “green” practices — insulated windows and doors, sprayed-in insulation and used LED lighting throughout the buildings, simple and cost effective ways to help the environment.

With its private, woodland location and close proximity to Lake Michigan’s shoreline, the comfortable new home, pool and poolhouse will provide this extended family with years of pleasure, camaraderie and PURE MICHIGAAS!