The Cedar Homestead is located on 45 acres of former forestry and pasture land in Cedar, Michigan. Already home to trillium, ramps, morel mushrooms, and sugar maples, the resurgent diversity of the once-managed land offers a rich palette of species to be curated as the clients make their new home. As the homesteading plan is developed, the land will be treated as a continuous patchwork of biodynamic gardens, cultivated to enrich the local ecosystem.
The home itself is built into a hillside that provides natural insulation and protection from harsh north winds while accommodating an easily accessible root cellar and cheese cave. Deep overhangs on a highly-glazed southern exposure block hot summer sunlight while allowing warm winter sunlight to wash the polished concrete floors' colorful local aggregate. Said concrete floor provides even, temperate climate control through a geothermal radiant heating system.
Douglas fir structural elements, maple surfaces, and steel components orchestrate a contemporary and warm assemblage that is born from local materials and building technique. Our holistic design approach - from selection, sourcing, and longevity of materials, to landscape integration, open loop geothermal system feeding a biodynamic trout pond, passive solar orientation and formal principles, active solar array, and electric car charging - reflects our clients' aspiration for their home to embody their ecologically sensitive lifestyle.
Designed by James Chesnut and Christopher Reznich.