GABLE NORTH
Detroit, MI
Gable North is a 2,300-square-foot, two-unit residence within the emerging Core City neighborhood of Detroit, MI. Designed by CHYDUK in collaboration with Michelle Kleinman, the house uses a form that’s familiar within the city while taking advantage of a long, narrow site typical to Detroit that resulted from early settler ribbon farms. Utilizing a limited material palette, Gable North reduces the number of layers typical for home construction with structural insulated panels (SIPs), exposed oriented strand board (OSB), and concrete as the dominant materials while maximizing performance. A dark exterior, clad with shou shugi ban-style burnt Japanese Cyprus panels and a dark metal roof, contrasts with light-filled interiors that feel both raw and refined.
Client: Chelsea Hyduk & David Axelson
Role: Design Architect
Size: 2,300 sf
Status: Completed Spring 2025
The primary residence (2 bedroom, 2.5 bath) for Chelsea, Dave, and their son, is paired with a rental unit (1 bed, 1 bath) at the front of the site and a publicly accessible, outward-facing shed located off the back alley. As a single-story residence—aside from a lofted playroom in the primary residence and meditation loft in the rental unit—the space is designed in a way that welcomes family, friends, and neighbors across generations and over the years, building a sustained sense of community. Shared spaces face the central courtyard, and bedrooms on the north side access a private deck.
First floor plan © CHYDUK
Pre-fabricated and shipped to site, SIPs form the shell of the building, defining the gable form and enclosing the interior space in a tightly sealed, efficient envelope. This served as a rare instance in which one of the first materials to arrive also served as the final finish material, and this serves as a testament to the contractor’s care for the project’s design intent. Image © Holcomb
"Whenever Chelsea reaches out for a project we know that it will be a fun one. We love working on bringing her visions to life and getting to see how our pieces interweave with the many other local craftspeople's projects. Her home is a beautiful celebration of what Detroit has to offer."
— Jake Saphier, Co-Founder of Donut Shop
In process gradient stains for ladder treads by Donut Shop. Image © Donut Shop
OSB millwork by Bill Berger. Image © Owen Kaufman
Bedroom credenza installation by Kahen Design. Image © CHYDUK
Boulder table installation by Black Helmut. Image © CHYDUK
Landscape materials and planting plan by Julie Bargmann. Image © D.I.R.T.
Image © Owen Kaufman
Image © CHYDUK
Architecture and landscape are inseparable at Gable North, with light and nature as important ingredients, and a deck, large windows, skylights, and sliding doors that all provide connections between interior and exterior. Blurring the line between new and existing, the landscape designed by Julie Bargmann of D.I.R.T. Studio employs native species and a low maintenance approach.
DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION TEAM
Design Architect: CHYDUK in collaboration with Michelle Kleinman
Architect of Record: Studio Detroit Architects
Landscape Design: Julie Bargmann, D.I.R.T. Studio
Civil Engineer: Nowak & Fraus Engineers
Structural Engineer: Conn Engineering Consultants
Contractor: Holcomb Development Company
Landscape Contractor: Tocco Mannino Landscaping
Photography: John D’Angelo, unless otherwise noted