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Modern Lodge designed by KEM STUDIO

Project name:
Modern Lodge
Architecture firm:
KEM STUDIO
Location:
Weatherby Lake, North Kansas City, MO, United States
Photography:
Bob Greenspan
Principal architect:
Design team:
Collaborators:
Interior design:
Built area:
3052 ft²
Site area:
Design year:
Completion year:
2015
Civil engineer:
Structural engineer:
Environmental & MEP:
Landscape:
Lighting:
Supervision:
Visualization:
Tools used:
Construction:
Material:
Wood, Concrete, Metal, Stone
Budget:
Undisclosed
Client:
Private
Status:
Built
Typology:
Residential › House

The Kansas city-based architecture and design firm KEM STUDIO has designed "Modern Lodge" a unique lakeside home that located in Weatherby Lake, North Kansas City, Missouri, United States.

Architect's statement: The Walsh’s work in the urban core but want to truly wind down when they head home and casually entertain friends. They purchased a waterfront lot on Weatherby Lake with the vision of creating a “Modern Lodge.”

The concept draws from the owners’ passion as a commercial photographer and the process of capturing an experience with a still photo. The house is two simple platonic forms, one resting on the other, pulled apart to create an aperture to the lake. The view is revealed once you enter the house, leaving the city behind and immersing yourself in lake living. The main public space is a wood-clad, two-story volume filled with light and the lake view. This is contrasted by a crisp, white stucco volume housing the private functions. The house is physically connected to the lake with large stones extracted from the site.

This project has won an AIA KC Design Excellence Award, a Platinum A’ Design Award, and an Archilovers Best Project Award.

The owners had a vision of a 'modern lodge." They were excited about lakeside living and wanted to build a home that was comfortable and provided a go-to place for family and friends.

Modern Lodge designed by KEM STUDIOimage © Bob Greenspan

As a commercial photographer, one of the owners had an inspiration for the house from the process of capturing an experience with a still photo. The house is two simple platonic forms, one resting on the other, pulled apart to create an aperture to the lake. The view is revealed once you enter the house, leaving the city behind and immersing yourself in lake living. 

Once the lot was cleared of some of its trees and construction began, the owners were awe-struck with how the giant back windows would provide a straight-line view of the main lake opening up off the cove.

We believe that sustainability is rooted in good design principles. Modern Lodge takes a holistic approach to sustainability by encompassing design, experience, lifestyle, and the building's impact on the environment with systems and material use.

The material usage is honest, natural and resourceful. Half of the house is polished concrete floors without adding another finish material. All the hardwoods are utility grade oak - both an inexpensive material and quality of wood that is often discarded. The site contained mostly limestone that was extracted during excavation for foundations. All the rock was kept on-site and used in the landscape architecture.

One of the key challenges was the site itself. It was sloped toward the lake and chock full of limestone.

KEM STUDIO designed the house to minimize the foundation system. They also used large stones extracted from the site to physically connect the home to the lake.

a lakeside house in Kansas City image © Bob Greenspan

entrance steps made of stone connecting the outdoor living space to the house image © Bob Greenspan

a house constructed on s slope hillside in a sunny day image © Bob Greenspan

Modern Lodge designed by KEM STUDIOimage © Bob Greenspan

the exterior of home finished with wooden material image © Bob Greenspan

a huge terrace located on the first floor image © Bob Greenspan

balcony with spectacular view of the jungle image © Bob Greenspan

two stylish white chair near window image © Bob Greenspan

the entrance door image © Bob Greenspan

a small desk with mirror in the corridor image © Bob Greenspan

wooden staircase image © Bob Greenspan

black leather sofa and Wooden table located in living room image © Bob Greenspan

black chimney and bookshelves are in the living area image © Bob Greenspan

the dining table is infant of kitchen image © Bob Greenspan

big egg shaped lamps hanged over dining table image © Bob Greenspan

modern white bar stools in the kitchen area image © Bob Greenspan

sun light entering the kitchen through window image © Bob Greenspan

the floor finishing is made of parquet image © Bob Greenspan

a dog sleeping in master bedroom image © Bob Greenspan

modern bathroom image © Bob Greenspan

huge mirror and white washing basins image © Bob Greenspan


By Naser Nader Ibrahim

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