Like an allegorical wave yearning to return to the lake, this house, perched atop a sand dune above Lake Michigan employs nautical imagery to create a weekend and summer retreat for a Chicago family. Composed of two intersecting volumes, the living areas of the house are organized in a linear manner, parallel to the lake, offering spectacular views of the lake and sunsets, juxtaposed by a 3-story volume containing the sleeping and study spaces, set at an angle to accentuate the separate masses. Nautical images are abundant throughout the form and details of the home. Ribbed steel and plaster ceilings arc above rooms, recalling the form and character of boat construction. Large stone fireplaces bookend the living areas and anchor the home to its natural setting. Horizontal wood siding, glass and metal sitting above a dry stack stone plinth create a richly textured exterior.An existing 2-story deck structure located on the bluff, no longer permitted by codes, was remodeled and incorporated into the design. A bridge connects the structure to the house and extends the living areas out over the bluff.

Interior design: Terri Weinstein, Ben White.
Interior Photography: Joe Glyda.