Olson Kundig

Northwoods House

Northwoods House
© Ngoc Minh Ngo

NORTHWOODS HOUSE

Olson Kundig

ARCHITECTS
Olson Kundig

LANDSCAPE
Stephen Stimson Associate

CIVIL ENGINEER
STS Consultants

MANUFACTURERS
AutoDesk, Flexform, Holly Hunt, Kawneer, Calmar, Dogpaw, Gulassa & Co, Julien, Lapchi, Mingardi, Seimatic, Steve Clark, Village Interiors

MECHANICAL ENGINEER
Riederer Engineering LLC

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Monte Clark Engineering

CONSULTANTS
Brian Hood Lighting Design, Maxine Ordesky, Inc., Seimatic, Kitchen Consultant, Joe Iano

CIVIL ENGINEER
STS Consultants

PHOTOGRAPHS
Ngoc Minh Ngo

AREA
6570 ft²

YEAR
2010

LOCATION
Iron River, United States

CATEGORY
Houses 

Text description provided by architect.

This home in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula frames and emphasizes its natural context, making nature its focus.

Northwoods House
© Ngoc Minh Ngo
Northwoods House
© Ngoc Minh Ngo

The design reacts to the surrounding environment, dissolving inside/outside boundaries and creating composed views into the woods and towards the water.

Exterior materials will weather over time to match the surroundings, while colors in the interior are inspired by the landscape – for example, an interior wood stain matches the color of the bark of nearby trees.

Northwoods House
© Ngoc Minh Ngo
Northwoods House
© Ngoc Minh Ngo

The house is organized on the site in two directions.

An East-West axis creates a path from the front door to a lake view, while floor to ceiling windows along a North-South axis frame the surrounding garden and forest. 

Northwoods House
© Ngoc Minh Ngo
Northwoods House
© Ngoc Minh Ngo

 A sculptural staircase anchors the intersection of the two main axes.

Throughout the interior, ceiling heights and room volumes vary, becoming more spacious in the rooms that open toward views.

Roof extensions and light shelves create clear definition between vertical spaces.

Northwoods House
© Ngoc Minh Ngo
Northwoods House
© Ngoc Minh Ngo
Northwoods House
© Ngoc Minh Ngo

The orderly axis breaks down outside the house.  As an asymmetrical cantilevered roof directs your gaze to the woods and lake views to the west.

Northwoods House
© Ngoc Minh Ngo
Northwoods House
© Ngoc Minh Ngo
Northwoods House
© Ngoc Minh Ngo


Northwoods House
Section
Northwoods House
Plan

Olson Kundig
T +1 206 6245670 F +1 206 6243730
Olson Kundig
159 S Jackson St # 600, Seattle, WA 98104, United States