Culver Homestead by Northworks

Set on an expansive forested site in Indiana, Culver Homestead comprises multiple volumes clad in stone, metal and dark modified timber, which work to reflect the light and generosity of the natural landscape.

Culver Homestead sits on almost 70 hectares of old-growth hardwood forest just outside of Culver in northern Indiana. The tones of the pristine forest informed the colour palette of the home, explains Bill Bickford, founding partner of Northworks and lead architect on the project. “The dark charred exterior creates a lovely contrast with the light bright forest,” he says, adding that it was a rare treat “as an architect to build a house on an untouched piece of property.”

A terrace extends from the main living spaces, crafted from Delta Millworks’ pre-finished Accoya decking in a custom grey.

Northworks worked in close consultation with the clients to create a modern farmhouse-style residence that would suit a new phase in their life. “They came to us with a program and we worked with them on how that layout would work best with the site but also their lifestyle as they enter a new chapter,” he says. Skyline Builders was involved from the beginning, meeting the clients while they were still considering buying the property. “On a custom project like this, it’s very important to have a contractor involved early on as part of the design team,” Bickford says.

The project unfolds as a “small village of volumes,” says the architect. Interiors are subtle and considered. “Our goal with the interior design was to make sure that every room flows together, not just physically but visually.” A terrace extends from the main living spaces, crafted from Delta Millworks’ pre-finished Accoya decking in a custom grey. In Indiana, where there’s a big fluctuation in temperature, the sustainably sourced Accoya, which is treated by non-toxic acetylation to create an ultra-stable and -durable product, was the ideal choice, says Skyline Builders’ Tim Merchant. “With a natural wood product, you’re always worried about the movement and how the sun will change the colour, but the Accoya is very stable and the colour has remained exactly the same,” he says.

To visually connect each volume, the architectural materials are purposefully limited to wood, glass, metal and stone.

To visually connect the residence, the architectural materials are purposefully limited to wood, glass, metal and stone, including corrugated barn sheet roofing, which speaks to a vision of rugged luxury. While limestone bounces natural light, walls clad in Delta Millworks’ Accoya Barnwood in Delta Black provide a striking contrast.

“The deep, dark richness of the Accoya was the perfect solution to give more emphasis to the different volumes of the exterior,” says Bickford. The Northworks team has a long association with Delta Millworks: “They’re able to meet our aesthetic needs, take pride in their products and are great collaborators along the way.”

“The deep, dark richness of the Accoya was the perfect solution to give more emphasis to the different volumes of the exterior.”

With a comprehensive layout and build, Culver Homestead effortlessly harmonises with its woodland setting. Through its rigorous approach, Northworks has successfully crafted a modern farmhouse with an identity shaped by context.

Architecture, interior design and styling by Northworks. Build by Skyline Builders. Landscape design by Outdoor Environments Group. Structural engineering by The Structural Shop. Civil engineering by Wightman. Modified timber by Delta Millworks. Production by The Local Production.