101 North Park Condo | Michael Fitzhugh Architect

The owner of this residence purchased space on three floors of a new five story mixed use building in Traverse City’s thriving downtown district.  The spaces added together create about 4,000 square feet of livable space.  The design for the residence grew from the need to tie all three levels together with a new, private internal stair.  The stair became the driving design aesthetic for the project.  The stair quickly became a means for bringing light to the lower level from the top floor.  The removal all visible structural support for stair treads and use of all glass for guard rails was a means for maximizing light from above as well as enhancing the effect of lightness in structure.  Programmatically the lower level of the residence includes a large public, social floor with an open kitchen, living and dining room with guest bedrooms and bathrooms.  The middle floor contains the private master suite with its own private entry and living space.  The living space is tied to a third level loft with city views and a private office and rooftop courtyard.  As one descends from the uppermost floor they can grasp a continuous railing which is uninterrupted for the journey through all three levels, tying the spaces into a continuous flow of experience.  The residence enjoys south-facing city views from the top two floors and a north-facing view of West Grand Traverse bay from the lower floor.

The design aesthetic is modern, using tight trim reveals, concealed lighting and hidden storage.  The materials used are a simple blend of painted drywall and Walnut and the spaces are designed as a response to existing building angles, column placement and natural lighting opportunities.