WHAT WE DO

Our Work.

Intricate crown molding, coffered ceilings, bold patterned wallpaper, gold and brass plated fixtures, board and batten siding, ornamental columns, decorative brackets, and faux timber beams…Yeah...we don't do any of that.

In a region where at least 90% of the architecture could be classified as traditional, North45 architecture is a bit of a black sheep. We design simple, honest, unapologetically modern, architecture, deeply influenced by and connected to the Northern Michigan Landscape.

We are privileged to work in one of the most beautiful parts of the country and we respect that. We allow the architecture to be deferential to the site. We use the natural surroundings to our advantage. We don’t try to compete with the sunset over Lake Michigan, the indescribable turquoise blue of Walloon Lake, or the beauty of a pristine wooded hillside covered in a blanket of fresh snow. Our architecture strives to complement it. We allow the architecture to be quiet. We don’t scream for attention. We leverage the advantages the site provides us and allow the natural landscape to be the main character. We remember why people revere Northern Michigan in the first place.

We believe the simplest solution is often the best. We believe that “ornamentation” is just a different word for “noise” and on the scale of minimalist to maximalist we will choose minimalist every time. We value honesty and integrity in materials. We believe there is a reason “faux” is a four-letter word. We design with steel, concrete, wood, stone and large expanses of glass. Enduring materials which will be just as beautiful and relevant in a hundred years as they are today. We don’t chase trends, we despise gimmicks, and we couldn’t care less about the latest color of the year. Our design philosophy and approach doesn’t vary by what is currently in vogue.

We design things to last.

We are constantly learning and building upon the lessons from past projects. Each house and every design, strives to be just a little bit better than the one which came before. We are not satisfied with good. We are chasing extraordinary.

We have been fortunate to find clients with the same passion and the same vision, for which we are incredibly thankful. We can’t do it with out them.