Enclosure

Four photovoltaic panels on the roof generate a considerable amount of energy throughout the year.

The corrugated metal siding was selected for its durability—capable of withstand harsh Michigan winters and hot summers. Its galvanized finish morphs in the shifting light and changing seasons.

The angled timber boarding echoes the original home, while still clearly marking the newly built extension.

“The deep white reveals of the circular skylight act as a screen that picks up the shadows of the tree above,” says architect Helena Rivera. “It changes throughout the night so we see shadows of birch leaves moving around the skylight.”

“I love the nighttime lighting of the new extension,” says architect Helena Rivera. “It allows the space to change from a functional workspace to a chill-out area very quickly through dimmers and carefully positioned track lights.”

The new second-story addition, clad in Hardie Lap Siding and painted in Benjamin Moore Deep Sea, creates a bold contrast with the existing home's cedar shingles in Black Panther.