Higgins Lake House / Jeff Jordan Architects

Higgins Lake House / Jeff Jordan Architects - Deck, PatioHiggins Lake House / Jeff Jordan Architects - HandrailHiggins Lake House / Jeff Jordan Architects - Deck, Garden, PatioHiggins Lake House / Jeff Jordan Architects - Table, Sofa, Chair, Beam, WindowsHiggins Lake House / Jeff Jordan Architects - More Images+ 16

Roscommon, United States

Text description provided by the architects. Many families in Michigan share a tradition of spending weekends and vacations in cottages adjacent to the state’s collection of lakes. Higgins Lake is considered one of the most spectacular of the inland lakes and the empty-nester’s who commissioned this cottage wanted to be able to share this resource with their large family and many friends. In order to do so, they requested a large gathering area for cooking, eating and relaxing and space to sleep twenty adults.

Higgins Lake House / Jeff Jordan Architects - Sofa, Table, Beam, Chair, Windows
© Jeff Garland Photography

Given the relatively large size of the cottage compared to the neighboring houses, the central challenge of this project is fitting a large building onto a narrow site without overwhelming the neighbors, but still taking advantage of the views. Our solution locates the house in the center of the site and breaks the overall volume of the building down into four smaller volumes to better incorporate it into the surroundings.

Main Plan

Additionally, this strategy brings substantial amounts of light and air into every room of the house while allowing for views out to the lake and surrounding forest. The living quarters and master suite are located above grade while the remaining bedrooms are partially buried to further diminish the apparent size of the house. The living quarters have a large expanse of glass facing the lake and additional glazing along the south side of the house to take advantage of passive heating in the winter. A large deck on the lake side of the house provides views while extending living space in the warmer months.

Higgins Lake House / Jeff Jordan Architects - Windows, Facade, Beam, Deck
© Jeff Garland Photography

Project gallery

See allShow less
About this office
Cite: "Higgins Lake House / Jeff Jordan Architects" 23 Sep 2011. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/170982/higgins-lake-house-jeff-jordan-architects> ISSN 0719-8884

You've started following your first account!

Did you know?

You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.