MIDWEST FOLLY

Designed for a family with young children, on a lake in central Michigan, this multi-purpose accessory structure accommodates cars, motorcycles, and boats while also functioning as a repair shop, storage facility, and flexible guest space.

The 47-by-49-foot building is clad in local, reclaimed barn siding, its weathered paint celebrating the material’s history, in contrast to the commercial curtainwall and aluminum standing-seam roof, which lend a modern vibe.

The origami roof transitions from the predictable symmetrical gable into a playful butterfly shape, giving the structure its distinctive profile.

Positioned at the entry of the narrow lakeside lot, its service areas are tucked away in the rear behind a reclaimed wooden screen wall, while guest quarters have views of the lake.

Scope
Architecture + Interior Architecture

Collaborators

Contractor: Blok Builders

Interior Design: Shafer Crowe | Architecture + Design LLC

Landscape Architect: Scott Byron & Company

Photography
Dave Burk Photography

Completed
2015

Award
AIA Small Projects Award, Citation of Merit, 2016