• Architecture,  Design Spotlight,  Featured,  Print Edition

    Ted Lott, AIA, LEED AP

      Lott3Metz Architecture LLC Owner, Principal Grand Rapids, Michigan There is a moment in good design when a bell tone rings out pure and true as the nuanced elements of form, function, and context come together to make a project truly sing. It is in this instance, which may not happen every day or in every project, that Ted Lott, AIA, LEED AP, owner and principal at Lott3Metz Architecture LLC in Grand Rapids, Michigan finds moments of joy. “Design is a form of communication. It certainly is a language that can be used coarsely or elegantly, and there is certainly a commodity aspect to it, which is often times in…

  • Architecture,  Design Spotlight,  Featured,  Form,  Print Edition,  Spotlight

    James D. Nordlie, AIA

    Archiventure Group PC Architects President Harbor Springs, Michigan | Denver, Colorado “The first line is never sacred. Design is a process and it is fighting the battle of mediocrity, insensitivity, and laziness. Design is the challenge of overcoming all of those obstacles for an inspirational and positive result,” said James D. Nordlie, AIA, president of Archiventure Group PC in Denver, Colorado and Harbor Springs, Michigan. “The fight is to not allow the appreciation for design to get lost in the speed of time and budgets. Our fight everyday is to find truth in design and make it have social responsibility as there are so many problems that are facing our…

  • Architecture,  Design Spotlight,  Featured,  Form,  Print Edition

    Dennis Reckley, RA

    SVB + Reckley Architects Architect, Chief Executive Officer Holland, Michigan Dennis Reckley, RA, architect and chief executive officer of SVB + Reckley Architects in Holland, Michigan realized his passion for design amid the ice cliffs and island mountains of Anvers Island near the Antarctic Peninsula while stationed at the South Pole as a Navy Seabee in the United States’ Navy Construction Battalion. It was there, where Nathaniel B. Palmer became the first American to record sighting the continent in 1820 aboard the Hero, Reckley’s affinity for construction and carpentry shaped into something more while building the Antarctic Palmer Research Station, a housing and research facility for scientists and other personnel.…

  • Architecture,  Design Spotlight,  Featured,  Print Edition

    John F. Spalding, RA, AIA, NCARB

    Spalding Design Group LLC Architect, Partner Mishawaka, Indiana | Tequesta, Florida To John F. Spalding, architect and partner at Spalding Design Group, LLC, design is a collaborative effort that involves client and architect, as well as a host of talented and trusted designers and trade professionals who contribute insightful input to the multi-faceted design build process. This philosophy is the backbone of Spalding Design Group and is supported by a team of designers whose dedication runs deep. “Design is a continually evolving process. Each project is created from a preliminary schematic design, but there are many people involved in successfully perceiving a client’s vision. The client and the designers, as…

  • Design Spotlight,  Featured,  Residential

    Design for Sale: Sommerset Pointe

    On Lake Charlevoix in Boyne City, Michigan, a three-bedroom, two-bathroom villa within the Sommerset Pointe Yacht Club and Marina’s lakeside residential collection offers a harmonious combination of lakefront living and active lifestyle. The property, a warm-weather refuge, will arrive on the market soon courtesy of Pat O’Brien and Associates Real Estate, a real estate brokerage firm specializing in northern Michigan’s luxury, residential, lakefront, and commercial properties. This Sommerset villa is designed for easy, everyday living and adaptable for entertaining lakeside. Soft hardwood floors cover the interior, which includes a spacious master suite and a semi-open kitchen with a generous island for gathering. An open living space toward the lake hosts…

  • Architecture,  Design Spotlight,  Featured,  Residential

    Design for Sale: Pa Be Shan Lane

    Composed of timber logs and stone, a sprawling residence on the Lake Michigan coastline is a captivating design for sale that offers plenty of room and privacy among the lush lakeside woodlands. The property is listed at $2.49 million with Pat O’Brien and Associates Real Estate, a real estate brokerage firm specializing in Northern Michigan’s luxury, residential, lakefront, and commercial properties.  Sitting on nearly 200 feet of sandy Lake Michigan frontage, with an extra 200-foot lot available, the home’s astute, but comfortable, lodge-style architecture is lit with warm light from within during the evenings and by natural sunlight during the day. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the great room capture sweeping views…

  • Architecture,  Featured,  Form,  Print Edition,  Residential

    A waterfront study in contrast

    This private waterfront residence located on the shore of Lake Michigan is the culmination of the combined creative and technical talent of Sears Architects, Cannarsa Structure and Design, and Zahn Builders Inc. In a region where certain vernacular styles often reign, it is evident upon first glance—the subdued white stucco exterior combined with bold, dark windows—this home is truly a study in contrast.  Contemporary lines are married with traditional features; an iconic floor-to-ceiling fireplace defies expectations and boundaries through the use of cinder block; intricate and sophisticated light fixtures and furnishings are interspersed with others more crisp and minimalist-inspired; and an 18-foot-high main living room is grounded with concrete floors,…

  • Architecture,  Featured,  Form,  Print Edition,  Residential,  Spotlight

    The dune house contemporary

    Beyond its sleek and sophisticated exterior, this Visbeen Architects Inc. residential project lives comfortably larger than its footprint through intentional and strategic design. The ability to capture a client’s dream with a conceptual drawing and translate the two-dimensional design into an architectural reality requires a combination of creative vision and technical skill that few possess. However, it is what has defined the rather comprehensive portfolio of Wayne Visbeen, AIA, IIDA, principal and founder of Visbeen Architects Inc., and his architectural design team for nearly 25 years.  Visbeen Architects is an award-winning, Grand Rapids-based, full-service architectural firm with additional offices in Chicago, Illinois, and Bluffton, South Carolina. While the firm is known for…