LOCATION: Birmingham, Michigan
ARCHITECT: Joseph Mosey Architecture, Inc.
DESIGNER: Duncan Fuller Interiors, Inc.
BUILDER: Templeton Building Company
PHOTOGRAPHER: © Maconochie Photography
Joseph Mosey Architecture, Inc. is a small boutique style architecture firm, located in Northville, Michigan. Throughout the entire home build process, the Firm Principal, Joe, is the contact for the client's home design and construction. Upon graduation from the top-ranked Architecture program at the University of Cincinnati in 1991, Joe learned about the craft by gaining experience in both commercial and residential architecture. He currently holds Architecture Licenses in Michigan, Illinois, Georgia, and Ohio, and a Builder's License in Michigan. Also working at the firm is David Barduca, a graduate of Lawrence Technological University, who earned a Master of Architecture, concentrating in sustainability. His role as Project Architect/Project Manager, and background in structural engineering, help to enable innovative, safe, and sustainable living environments for clients.
Joseph Mosey Architecture have won numerous design awards including a number from Best of Houzz and Detroit Home Magazine Design Awards. Their website highlights their design process from discussing client dreams all the way to helping manage the building process. To ensure a completely integrated and seamless environment, they stress consideration of the exterior and interior selections to work together as a whole. With their valuable years of experience in constructing custom homes, Joseph Mosey Architecture is able to provide alignment between design, building, and budget.
On the firm's website you can see more of their diverse and impressive work. Highlighted in the images below is the Birmingham Contemporary project, a stunning home in Metro-Detroit. The homeowners, Ann Heath and Steve Templeton, contributed to the project as the interior designer and builder, respectively. You can find Ann's work here and Steve's building company here. It's exciting to hear about this entire team working together to enable the clients' dream environment. The home is a striking example of contemporary architecture, embracing a cool-toned color palette and modern exterior landscaping. The selected home materials and exterior stance enable a timeless and sophisticated design. Although contemporary, the living space does not lack any sense of warmth or comfort with the addition of a fireplace, chandelier, and wood beams.
I had the opportunity to ask Joe some questions about his work at Joseph Mosey Architecture, Inc.:
Can you describe your style or design philosophy and what’s unique about it?
We are a design firm that specializes in creating authentic style-specific architecture based on an in depth understanding of precedents in whichever style we are working in. We are students of historical as well as progressive styles and execute our projects using this knowledge of precedent overlaid with clear design order and spatial scale.
What is your favorite feature you designed in the Birmingham Contemporary project and why?
The unique entry and garage setup that is a direct response to Birmingham's tight building conditions and zoning ordinance.
What is something one has to consider in constructing flat roof contemporary style homes, in a climate like Michigan?
Needs to be carefully managed but the systems today are far more advanced and we rarely see problems if they are installed correctly.
What is something in your lifestyle or home life that has influenced your designs?
Constant study of architectural history and styles is a passion and constant in all aspects of my life.
What was an element of your client’s lifestyle you needed to incorporate? Or any special requests that you had to design into a residence?
They wanted a modern style home that didn't lose the comfort of a transitional style interior.
What room in your house inspires you the most?
Our sunroom in our cottage in Elk Rapids. Glass on 3 sides, lots of light and views to the water.
How much does the exterior environment influence your design theme/color palette? Or what are your favorite ways to embrace nature in your architectural designs?
We always design site specific architecture that responds to unique site features.. topography, trees, light, views corridors, etc. We want the house to feel it is growing out of the site. Colors often respond to context as well.
What does a typical day look like in the life of an architect?
Hard work, long hours! Each day has an element of creativity.. sometimes more, sometimes less. Managing and administrating projects is always a good part of the day. Most of the creative work gets done after hours late night or on weekends :)
What is a common client misconception?
That all architects have the same experience, talent and process. Clients are buying in to all those things and need to clearly understand what they will be getting in the way of effort, creativity and time.
What hints would you give someone who is planning to build their own home?
Start with hiring an architect. Clearly understand the design process and hire a good architect that they trust will have their best interests in mind and has a process that will deliver the results they are looking for.
In appreciation of this team's work, I've linked their portfolios below:
All images are copyright © Maconochie Photography.
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