Grass Lake, MI (2022)

Hot Seat is one discreet component in a larger, systemic series of passive solar interventions at Fine-tuned Farmhouse in rural Michigan. At its core, it introduces a substantial volume of thermal mass directly adjacent to a south-facing wall of glazing. Constructed from reclaimed bricks and cast-in-place concrete, and bordered to the south by a slate tile floor, the installation absorbs solar radiation throughout the day and gradually releases heat into the interior as part of the home’s passive convection loop.

To make this thermal mass more functional, its form is shaped into a bench oriented toward the living space. The geometry—cast in textured concrete—integrates with the adjacent masonry fireplace and includes an angled seatback for comfort. The surface of the bench back morphs, peeling out from the existing masonry fireplace as stacked vertical surfaces before tilting into a series of sawtooth strips, and then reclining further to become an angled seat back as it projects into the living space. Horizontal seams create continuous datums, maintaining alignment with the grout lines of the existing, original fireplace. These contours wrap across each surface of the bench before returning back to brick, melding into grout lines on the south side of the bench.

The seat and top cap are made from wood salvaged from the home’s original flooring, removed during construction. A storage cavity below the seat houses removable water bricks, making it possible to adjust the amount of thermal mass in the body of the bench. The result is a quietly efficient element — merging environmental function with daily comfort.

This project was completed in collaboration with:
Kasey Vliet - Principal, Project Manager (construction)
Travis Williams - Principal, Project Architect
Elpis Wong - Designer
Trevor Herman Hilker - Designer
Cody England - Apprentice Carpenter

Construction Team:

In Parallel Architects + Builders, LLC
Alexander Welding
Van Ingen Construction

Jane Messinger Photography - Finished Photography