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The dining table and chairs in the kitchen were handcrafted by the homeowner from timber harvested on-site.

The bold yet minimalist residence sits lightly on the land and engages with the surrounding scenery.

The architect and owners were in sync on every aspect of the design, including the desire for shou sugi ban siding. “I had been interested in shou sugi ban for a long time,” Herrmann says. “These Japanese cypress boards have been charred, wire-brushed, stained, and oiled. We did a lot of testing to come up with the right dark grey color; it changes in the light.”

The home's sloping roofline sweeps upward from an enclosed courtyard. The character of the house changes as light hits the mix of materials—from rough stone to sleek black aluminum—throughout the day, giving it a sense of constant motion.

The house is hidden from the road and sits on a hilltop clearing that overlooks the rolling farmland of the Mississippi River bluffs in Western Wisconsin. From this vantage point, there is a 270-degree view, with dramatic sunsets over the distant hills.

The backyard is designed to take advantage of the abundant space and allows for plenty of outdoor living throughout the year in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

The covered patio and built-in barbecue make the backyard perfect for outdoor living.