Briarcliff Residence

Briarcliff is set on a park-like 3.5 acres in historic Franklin, Michigan. A house in two acts, it balances an elegant form and façade with a dramatic, playful interior—fitting for a private, close-knit family passionate about music and theater.

The home’s design was inspired by the classic form of rural Michigan farmsteads—collections of gabled-roof structures built over generations. These familiar forms connect the home to its historic context but are articulated with modern building techniques and materials and innovative detailing. 

The home’s functions are separated into four distinct pavilions, creating clear separations between private and public zones. The longest pavilion runs side-to-side across the property in an uninterrupted volume that features exposed steel bents, expansive glass towards the pool, and a wall of custom millwork creating privacy from the street. The pavilion is bookended with striking complementary forms that house the blued-steel hearth and the kitchen in emerald green and stained walnut. Eco-friendly, prefab roof panels allow large spans between the steel bents without need for additional structure. 

The home is nestled into the topography behind several knolls that have been “sliced” with Corten steel retaining walls. From the street and perimeter of the site, the house seems tucked behind gently rolling hills, while a submerged motor court and Corten-walled walkways face the house. The combined effect is to aid privacy while beginning to reveal the home’s whimsy and playfulness as you near the home.

The layout of clustered pavilions creates a sense of the building unfolding as it is experienced. The siting was minimally disruptive to trees, and in particular creates a feature of a hundred-year-old American Elm and climbing Hydrangea. Windows frame views of both the beautiful natural setting and other components of the home itself. In this way, the outside is constantly invited into the home, for an ongoing conversation among the modern exterior, the warm interior, and the natural surroundings.