- Project: Redaction House
- Architect: Johnsen Schmaling Architects
- Location: United States, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
- Year: 2016
- Area: 226 m2
- Photography: John J. Macaulay
A Retreat for a Fiber Artist
Just west of Milwaukee, in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, the Redaction House by Johnsen Schmaling Architects is a carefully crafted family residence for a textile artist and her young family. Compact at 2,430 square feet, the house translates the owners’ need for refuge and creative inspiration into a sculptural, cedar-clad cube that balances privacy with selective openness.
Concept of Redaction
Situated on a narrow sliver of land along a suburban lake crowded with spec homes, the house takes an introverted stance. Rather than competing with its generic surroundings, the building acts as an optic filter, editing out unwanted views while framing curated vistas of the lake, sky, and foliage.
This concept of redaction is expressed through spatial voids carved into the cube:
-
A linear entry court marked by a brick wall with patterned perforations, gradually revealing glimpses inward.
-
A covered second-floor deck that captures framed views of the lake.
-
A double-height living room, where vertical apertures stack to reveal skyward and treetop perspectives.
Material Expression
The cube is clad in horizontal cedar siding, complemented by vertical cedar inserts around recessed apertures. Narrow painted boards add an unexpected filigree of colors, referencing the polychrome threads of the client’s textile work. This subtle play of tones animates the façade, enriching the restrained geometry with a layer of artistry.
The stepped brick podium anchors the house to its sloping site, while also establishing a threshold between the suburban fabric and the private domestic world within.
Interior Experience
Inside, the two-story living hall forms the heart of the home, bathed in natural light that shifts across its surfaces throughout the day. Floor-to-ceiling apertures alternate with solid walls, ensuring privacy from neighboring homes while maintaining visual connections to the natural environment.
The strategic placement of openings fosters a sense of refuge while still offering a dialogue with the landscape. The result is a compact but richly layered spatial experience where everyday family life intersects with framed moments of nature.
The Redaction House is a testament to Johnsen Schmaling Architects’ ability to refine domestic architecture into a minimalist yet poetic form. By carefully balancing enclosure and openness, the residence becomes not just a family home but also a personalized architectural filter—a quiet retreat on the lake, enriched by material warmth and artistic nuance.
