A Home Innately Anchored to the Natural World
The Chenequa Residence
Photography by Cameron R. Neilson
Architect Robert Harvey Oshatz is acclaimed for his ability to design structures that are inspired by their settings and at one with the environment around them.
The Chenequa residence, located on the outskirts of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, wraps around the face of a hill and pivots through stands of old growth oak. The home is deeply influenced by the surrounding landscape and melds stone, stained concrete, glass, metal, as well as exotic and domestic woods seamlessly throughout its interior and exterior spaces.
When conceiving the design for the residence, the homeowners emphasized the importance of using natural materials and preserving all of the existing trees on the site. They wanted a family-friendly home that would be elegant yet comfortable and sturdy enough for a family of six.
Architect Robert Oshatz selected the home's palette of materials based on functionality, beauty, complementarity and ties to the natural environment. Among the primary materials used in the interior of the house were hemlocks to texturize the ceilings, Idaho quartz which sends out a radiant shimmer from the home's core, and stained concrete, which imparts an earthy organic look to the floors.
Frequently asked questions
Who designed the Chenequa residence in Wisconsin?+
The Chenequa residence was designed by architect Robert Harvey Oshatz, who is acclaimed for creating structures inspired by their settings and at one with the surrounding environment.
What priorities did the Chenequa homeowners give Robert Oshatz for the design?+
The homeowners emphasized using natural materials and preserving all existing trees on the site. They also wanted a family-friendly home that would be elegant yet comfortable and sturdy enough for a family of six.
How does the Chenequa residence integrate with its natural site?+
The home wraps around the face of a hill and pivots through stands of old growth oak on the outskirts of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its design melds stone, stained concrete, glass, metal, and exotic and domestic woods seamlessly throughout its interior and exterior spaces.
What role does hemlock wood play in the Chenequa residence interior?+
Hemlock was used to texturize the ceilings of the home, contributing to the interior's natural material palette selected by architect Robert Oshatz.
Why was Idaho quartz chosen for the Chenequa home's interior?+
Idaho quartz was selected because it sends out a radiant shimmer from the home's core, complementing the natural materials palette that ties the residence to its environment.
How did stained concrete contribute to the Chenequa residence design?+
Stained concrete was used for the floors of the home, imparting an earthy, organic look that reinforces the residence's connection to the natural world.