The Cowan
Location — Winnetka, IllinoisYear — 2024Type — Private ResidenceStatus — Completed
Cowan House sits on a wooded lot that slopes gently toward Lake Michigan, and the plan is organized around that slope rather than against it. The main volume steps down in three shallow platforms, so every room meets the ground at a different height and the roofline stays low against the tree line.
The client asked for a house that would work for a family of five now and for two people again in twenty years — so the plan separates a compact daily core (kitchen, living, primary suite) from a wing of four bedrooms that can be closed off entirely. A steel and cross-laminated-timber structure keeps the interior largely column-free, and the timber is left exposed on the underside of the roof throughout.
Cladding is a mix of dark-stained cedar and standing-seam zinc, chosen to weather at different rates and read as two related but distinct materials rather than one uniform skin.
The Harvey
Residence
Location — Cape Girardeau, Missouri— 2018 Type — Private ResidenceStatus — Completed
Site Area
0.62 AC
Floor Area4,850 SF
Structure
Steel + CLT
Completion2018
Designed for Mr. and Mrs. Harvey, The Harvey Residence in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, is a study in warmth, proportion, and timeless residential design. We developed the home as a welcoming, single-story composition that feels substantial without becoming imposing.
Its low, sheltering rooflines and broad overhangs create a strong horizontal character, while a raised central element introduces natural light and gives the exterior a distinctive architectural identity. Rich red brick, warm stucco, dark-framed windows, and carefully detailed masonry establish a material palette that feels both refined and firmly connected to the region.
Recessed entries, low garden walls, and layered landscaping soften the transition from the street to the home, creating a sense of privacy while remaining open and inviting. Every element was composed to give the Harvey family a residence that feels comfortable, enduring, and uniquely their own.
