Perched above the shores of Lake Michigan, H2O (acronym for the home’s full name: Hicks’ Helena Oasis), is a study in how constraint can be transformed into clarity. Built on a steep, narrow lot subject to strict EGLE (Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy) regulations, the project was defined by overlapping limitations: site geometry, environmental restrictions, and the client’s deeply personal request to age in place gracefully. Rather than treating these as obstacles, the design team embraced them as creative fuel, shaping a home that is both practical and poetic, and deeply attuned to its surroundings. The tight footprint and sloped terrain led to a vertical organization. Public living spaces are elevated above the street, offering expansive views of sky and water, while private bedrooms occupy the upper level, precisely oriented toward the lake. This sectional strategy not only maximizes vistas but also creates intimate, unexpected moments. One discovery during early massing studies —a generous pocket of space above the stairwell —evolved into a crow’s nest lounge: a compact retreat at the home’s highest point, where one can quietly watch waves roll in or storms sweep across the horizon. Material and construction choices further reflect a sensitivity to land and law. Traditional excavation would have disrupted the fragile site, so the team employed a prefabricated, Michigan-made foundation system. Rock beds and precast concrete walls were craned into place, minimizing disturbance while accelerating construction, a win for both ecology and efficiency. Inside, the home is designed for longevity. All essential functions, including the kitchen, bath, bedroom, and living space, are located on the main floor, with no thresholds or steps. Circulation paths are wide and intuitive, and finishes strike a balance between durability and warmth. Light fills the interiors throughout the day, softening spaces that are quiet yet never austere, open yet comfortably enclosed. From the exterior, H2O is modest in form and footprint, yet layered in experience. Its restraint is not minimalism but intention; every decision, from structure to fenestration, is guided by the interplay of land, regulation, and life. The home naturally settles into its hillside, embracing its views and purpose. H2O demonstrates how architecture can grow from the contours of constraint — turning regulation into rhythm, compression into vertical delight, and a restrictive parcel into a profoundly personal retreat. Light on the land yet expansive in spirit, it is a home for both the present and the years ahead.