Douglas House (Harbor Springs, Michigan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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James and Jean Douglas House
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 3490 S. Lake Shore Dr., Friendship Township, Michigan |
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| Built | 1971 |
| Architect | Richard Meier |
| Architectural style | Modern |
| NRHP reference No. | 16000232 |
| Added to NRHP | May 3, 2016 |
The Douglas House is a special home found right on the shore of Lake Michigan in Friendship Township, near Harbor Springs, Michigan. It's officially called the James and Jean Douglas House, named after the people who had it built. This house is famous for its unique design and how it fits into its tricky location.
History of the Douglas House
In 1965, a famous architect named Richard Meier was asked to design a house in Connecticut. This house was finished in 1967 and even appeared on a magazine cover. James and Jean Douglas from Michigan saw it and loved the design.
They reached out to Meier and asked him to create a similar house for them in northern Michigan. Planning for their new home started in 1971. The first place they picked was in a fancy neighborhood. However, the community didn't like Meier's plan for a bright white house.
Instead of changing the color, the Douglases found a different piece of land. This new spot was very steep and seemed almost impossible to build on. But they loved the idea of a white house designed by Meier.
Construction of the Douglas House began on this challenging site. It took three years to build, finally finishing in 1973. When Meier helped furnish the house, he designed some pieces himself. He also used furniture created by other famous designers like Le Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe.
The Douglas House is considered very important in architecture. In 2007, the American Institute of Architects listed it as one of the top 150 buildings in America. In 2016, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a special building worth protecting. The house is still in its original condition, with no big changes or additions.
What the Douglas House Looks Like
The Douglas House is built on a very steep hill. It looks out over Lake Michigan. It's a four-story building that is bright white. It has a flat roof made of redwood. The house looks like a tall, narrow rectangle standing on its end.
The side of the house facing the lake has lots of glass windows. This allows for amazing views of the water. The house is mostly made of redwood boards, painted almost completely white. Its foundation uses strong poles hammered deep into the ground.
You enter the house from the top floor using a bridge. This bridge connects the house to the higher ground. The stairs inside the house are placed in the corners. This way, they don't block the beautiful views or the sunlight.
The top floor, which is the fourth floor, is where you enter. It has a large outdoor deck. There's also a smaller deck even higher up. Below this, the third floor has three bedrooms and a bathroom. It also has a built-in desk that looks down into the living room on the floor below.
The second floor holds the main living room. It also has a small bar area and the master bedroom. The first floor, which is the lowest main level, has the dining room, kitchen, and laundry area. It also has another bedroom with its own bathroom. Below the first floor, there's a basement level. This area holds the heating, cooling, water, and electrical systems, plus storage.
See also
In Spanish: Casa Douglas (Harbor Springs) para niños
