“Design is not a thing you are either doing or not doing; it is just a part of who you are. It is not like a light switch that you can turn on or off: it is an approach to problem-solving, it is an approach to life,” said Eric De Witt, AIA, architect and owner of Lucid Architecture in Zeeland,…
-
-
The southwestern contemporary
Northern Michigan residential design often captures the intersection of breezy summer style oriented toward the area’s bounty of lakes and rivers, and the practical features necessary to withstand Midwest winters, which have recently pushed historical records. With a preference for the former, one homeowner in Northport, Michigan collaborated with Mapleridge Construction LLC, a custom home builder in Williamsburg, Michigan, to…
-
Brent R. Dykstra, LEED AP
Brent Dykstra, LEED AP, senior architect and senior associate at AMDG Architects, Incorporated in Grand Rapids, Michigan knew he wanted to be an architect when he was about 12- or 13-years-old; although he didn’t completely know what it meant at the time. “It seemed like the right convergence of practical problem solving and artistic creation. I don’t think I ever…
-
Personal affects
Before Dawn Marie Coe, founder and chief creative officer at DMC Design LLC, launched her own firm in 2011, she had a naturally-keen eye for interior details and how they paired with their architectural surroundings. “I noticed I had an eye for not just looking at those little things, but also asking the right questions to see if [homeowners] needed…
-
Diverse craft
Variation in project scope and typology often brings new opportunities to play with different architectural styles, and for Elaine Keiser, AIA, architect and principal of Elaine Keiser Architect, Inc., those opportunities bring a breath of fresh air and thrill. “I really embrace the idea that we can venture out into different styles of architecture and find some new way to…
-
Celebrated history
Northern Michigan is often known as a vibrant tourist destination due to its valuable natural resources and seasonal beauty. Since the 1870s—and as railroads expanded their lines to reach more corners of the area—hidden gems such as Walloon Lake were exposed to the yearly influx of visitors from cities such as Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Chicago. To participate in the industry…
-
Nick Liebler, LEED AP
Nick Liebler, LEEP AP, architect, and partner at White & Liebler Architects in Petoskey, Michigan is inspired by the idea of craft in design. “You’re creating something that didn’t exist before, so the challenge of being able to take a given set of ideas and turn it into something tangible—that would be what is most exciting to me about design,”…
-
Great Lakes By Design: Ergonomics
Design Corner Elements a ring inspired by the historic architecture of the Guardian Building Nate & Natty the refined and soft-spoken seating line from Kimball U by Moen a new-to-market smart shower product delivering streamlined personalization Design Spotlight Future of space the role of ergonomics in the working environment and in transforming space to drive a more mobile and agile…
-
Kevin Montgomery, AIA, LEED GA
“A few years ago, I really decided to embrace the idea of you don’t know what you don’t know. Our job is something that the best of them are in their prime when they are in their final stage of their career, potentially, and it is because you can continue to master more and more of what goes into the…
