UNBUILT RESIDENCE
CAMP MADRON
BUCHANAN, MICHIGAN, 1989

The site for this house was bounded by four distinct landscapes that stretched from the property in the four cardinal directions. The design of the house reflects the four frontages with a contemporary re-interpretation of the Palladian "Villa Rotunda".

The Palladian centered figural void and dense periphery is inverted to a dense figural center with a sparse periphery and voided corners. The communal spaces are clustered in a single large room punctured by a central spiral stair. The result is an overall spatial emphasis that is projected out into the landscape and anchored around the central core. The varying landscapes in the four cardinal directions are acknowledged with an alternating set of screen porches and entry vestibules. Steel frame construction allows for bedrooms, windows, and doors to continue the voided corner theme throughout. Second floor bedrooms are entered at their corners from the central stair. Corner windows located opposite the entrances are designed with no visual obstructions in the corners. At the top of the central stair is a light filled retreat for reading.

Photos by William Kildow.

Elevation View

An elevational view of the model.

Oblique View

An oblique view illustrating the mullionless corner windows.

View from Above

A view of the model from a higher point of view.