Chicago architect Dirk Denison runs his own architecture firm and is an associate dean at the
Illinois Institute of Technology.

associate dean at the Illinois Institute of Technology, he has a strong
Michigan connection. He is a Cranbrook school graduate before at-
tending the University of Michigan and receiving a master of archi-
tecture degree at the Harvard School of Design.
'When it became time to design a home,
we wanted the latest cutting edge architec-
ture," said the owners. They are knowledge-
able in the arts and are active in many local
organizations including the Friends of Mod-
ern Art, the Cranbrook Art Academy and the
Artists Market. They have a large art collec-
tion, representing many local artists who they
know personally.
Through their involvement in the art world,
they met Mary Denison, a corporate art con-
sultant. They watched her son's progress
in the field of architecture. Dirk Denison was
included in Progressive Architecture's 1990
prestigious list of top young, international architects. When they need-
ed an architect, Dirk Denison was the best and obvious choice. The
owners looked for two years to find the location, a sunset view of the

lake. Although the property had a 1915 cottage and overgrown grounds,
the view was perfect They made two requests of the architect. 'We
wanted everything on one floor and we wanted a fireplace from which
to watch the sunset over the lake," said the wife.
Both owners played an integral part in the
construction of the home. The husband, a de-
veloper and builder on the east side of town,
set up a trailer on site and was the general
contractor.
According to Detroit sculptor and Birm-
ingham resident Gary Kulak, the team
worked well together. "The owners were
wonderful. It was a dream for all of us."
Kulak created the custom steelwork for the
house on site. Following Denison's designs,
Kulak made the exterior wall, the breakfast
and steel alcove, the sun screen off the back
of the house and the hand rail on the deck in
the master bedroom. He also made some of the furniture from the
remnants. There are several commissioned pieces throughout the
home. Kulak mentioned that when they needed a break from work, he

The owners looked
for two years to find
the perfect location,
a sunset view
of the lake.

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An aerial view of the
home showing the
constraints of the
land.

34 • FALL 1993 • STYLE

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