Chicago Architecture Firm Selects Scotch Fixture for Wisconsin Farmhouse

Designed by Chicago-based architecture firm Collective Office, a modern farmhouse nestled amid the rolling prairies of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, seamlessly integrates with its surroundings. Seeking to create an indoor-outdoor sensibility open to the landscape, they conceived of a single-story structure that mirrors its environment rather than dominating it.

Three vaulted buildings—each of which contains a living space—feature gabled roofs that reference the vernacular of traditional regional farmhouses. The unique design provides enhanced views of the prairie and maximizes privacy.

The interior is marked by a streamlined, minimalist aesthetic and sustainable materials that nod to the natural setting. Wide-plank, maple floors mingle with custom white-oak millwork and a louvered staircase in solid maple. The furnishings complete the feel of a contemporary farmhouse with its restrained attitude and sleek silhouettes.

The exterior, meanwhile, clad in Alaskan yellow cedar shingle and black metal, is dotted with Vibia’s Scotch outdoor lamp. Designed by Oscar and Sergi Devesa, the fixture evokes a sleek ice sculpture, at once strong and subtle.

The thick, pressed-glass diffuser rests upon a chrome base, its simple, spherical form providing an understated accent that stands a mere 9 cm proud of the wall.

Scotch’s white-painted interior emits a warm, transparent light to brighten the pool area and perimeter while maintaining the property’s pared-down point of view.


Photography: Mike Schwartz