Verdant Hollow Farms

Inspired by healthy ecosystems, food, and a desire to be connected to the earth, a Chicago professional set out to look for farmland property in southwest Michigan. Her dream was to create a working organic farm that would restore soil health and serve as a retreat to welcome visitors into a deeper connection with nature and the food we eat. Knowing a caretaker was needed for the farm, she enlisted her former personal chef turned close friend, and her husband, a Chicago Public Schools teacher. Together with their three young boys, they created a vision of a place where people can gather and learn about nature and food.

At its core, the project involved designing a caretaker residence that provides flexible space for a growing family, offering sustainable comfort. The family welcomes people into their lives in a natural and open way, and they wanted the design of their home to reflect that. At the same time, they also desired for their home to include private spaces for reflection, including food prep areas, reading nooks, and an upstairs lounge area. The clients engaged our team to design a new home on this established property, which includes an original barn that was converted into the previous owners’ home in 1971 by the late Chicago architect, Stanley Tigerman. To continue that legacy, the new home’s design draws inspiration from the barn both spatially and in its connection to the landscape. They wanted to maintain the vernacular integrity of the existing farm, while establishing its own architectural identity in the landscape.

Our design process began by studying the site to position the home in a way that offers broad views of the working farm as well as maximizes energy efficiency. The north side of the home contains the most private spaces, facing the forest, while the more public south side splits into two wings, facing separate pastures. The interiors provide plenty of natural light through windows that look upon the pastures, pond, and other buildings on the property, allowing the owners to keep an eye on the entire farm, even while in the home. The home takes inspiration from the barn, including the inclusion of triangular openings, large globe fixtures, expressed structural trusses, and lofted occupied spaces.

The finished home is an indoor haven that provides respite from their busy lives. The design is simple, practical, informal, environmentally responsible, and is a natural addition to the existing farm. Utilizing timber harvested from the property, the home is a wooded retreat that naturally fits into its forested setting. It provides comfort and utility in pursuit of their interests and hobbies, while also easing their ability to perform daily farm duties.