Richly toned wood is paired with stucco-covered concrete to form the walls of this contemporary country house in Missouri, designed by American firm Kem Studio. 
The Modern Lodge is situated on a sloped site overlooking Weatherby Lake, near Kansas City. The owners ? a married couple with children ? work in the city but wanted a country-style home where they could wind down and entertain friends.

The building is composed of two platonic forms that are arranged perpendicularly and sit atop a concrete base. One volume houses public functions, while the other encompasses private spaces.

According to Kem Studio, this arrangement was created in response to the husband's job as a commercial photographer, in particular, "the process of capturing an experience with a still photo". "The two are pulled apart, creating an aperture to the lake and transition between public and private functions of the house," said the Kansas City-based firm. "The view is revealed once you enter the house, leaving the city behind and immersing yourself in lake living."

The public volume ? the larger of the two ? is wrapped in cypress shiplap, a type of wooden board panelling. On the west-facing side, which looks toward the lake, a screen hangs down and helps shade glass walls.
The smaller form is sheathed in crisp, white stucco and has only a few windows, which allow for "visual separation" and privacy.

The property's natural vegetation was left in pl...