Learn how architecture enhances lifestyleSPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT homesbyarchitects.org
EXPERIENCE ARCHITECT-DESIGNED HOMES ON THIS ONE-OF-A-KIND HOME TOUR
Join us as 14 architect-designed homes in the Twin Cities area open their doors for one weekend in September. The tour, created by the American Institute of Architects Minnesota, promises to be truly stand-alone, showcasing how an architect-designed home is the product of a different process. Experience the lifestyle of these homeowners and find out how they worked with an architect on their new or remodeled home. And learn how an architect can add value to the entire process from concept and design through construction and completion. We invite you to come and explore.
TICKETS
• Save $5 by purchasing tickets online by noon on September 17: $15
• Tickets are available at all home tour locations each day of the tour for $10 (single home) or $20 (all 14 homes), payable by cash only
For more information and an interactive map of the homes, visit www.homesbyarchitects.org.
Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hbatour.
MEET THE SPONSORS
Silver Sponsor:
Marvin Windows
1-800-270-7460 • www.marvin.com
Marvin Windows and Doors is a premier manufacturer of wood and clad wood windows and doors for both replacement and new construction. Each Marvin product is made-to-order to meet every customer’s unique needs. Unlike any other manufacturer, Marvin does not build an inventory of finished products. The manufacturing process begins once an order is received, and ends when products are shipped to customers. Marvin’s Built around you® philosophy enables Marvin to offer the industry’s most extensive selection of windows and doors.
Bronze Sponsors:
Pella Windows & Doors
877-54-PELLA • www.pella.com
For more than 80 years, Pella has set the standard for quality, craftsmanship and service. Our commitment to innovation and unsurpassed experience enable us to work with you to create unique solutions that are perfectly matched to your needs for high-quality, high-performance windows and doors. Pella. Viewed To Be The Best.™ More information at 877-54-PELLA or www.pella.com
Warners’ Stellian
877-431-2100 • www.warnersstellian.com
Find an incredible selection of the finest kitchen appliances and home appliances for your lifestyle at Warners’ Stellian. With over 40 major appliance brands in all styles and price ranges, including refrigerators, dishwashers, washers & dryers, ovens, stove-tops and much more, you’ll find exactly what you need from budget appliances to high-end dream kitchens. When you shop at Warners’ Stellian, you’re supported by a group of dedicated professionals who are serious about selling and servicing appliances. “Working Harder to Earn Your Business” is more than just a tag line – it’s the culture of the company.
Contributor Level Sponsors:
Valcucine
www.valcucinempls.com
Mattson Macdonald Young, Inc.
www.mattsonmacdonald.com
Landscape Renovations
www.landscaperenovations.com
Room and Board
www.roomandboard.com
Elevation Homes, a division of Streeter & Associates
www.elevationhomes.com
Tour Supporter:
MNGreenStar: Certified Green Homes and Remodeling
www.mngreenstar.org
ASK THE HOMEOWNER
We asked homeowners a few questions about their home and the process of working with an architect. Here’s what they had to say.
Q. How did you select this architect?
A. Homeowner: Stephen
SALA Architects: Joe Metzler, AIA
I did some web research on local AIA Minnesota firms that had won design awards. I also looked into firms that had experience with the Arts & Crafts or Prairie-Style movement. I found two architects within SALA Architects whose designs resonated strongly with our own vision for our home.
Homeowner: Shane and Erinn
Architect: SALA Architects, Eric Odor, AIA
Eric had done work on a family member’s home, but we had also seen many of his homes around our neighborhood, and we really appreciated his aesthetic.
Homeowner: Jeff
Architect: CityDeskStudio, Christian Dean
I asked around for names and resources of architects that had experience with modern design. I selected a few architects to meet with and connected with Christian Dean and City Desk Studio from the start. Being passionate about architecture myself, I’d give him an idea or thought and he’d come back to me with something better then I could imagine.
Homeowner: Ric and Maureen
Architect: SALA Architects, Katherine Hillbrand, AIA
We originally visited with an associate at the State Fair after looking at SALA website. We both liked Katherine’s work.
Homeowner: Rich & Lynn
Architect: SALA Architects, Kelly Davis, AIA, Tim Old
When we had the opportunity to buy the property, we called Kelly and he agreed to look at the site to see if it was buildable. We asked him if he thought his zen, contemporary, prairie-design style could mix with our cottage/bungalow mentality. He did a remarkable job of making that happen.
Homeowner: Scott & Jen
Architect: Nguyen Architects, Tan Nguyen, AIA
We were not sure what more an architect could do for us than a design/build contractor. After meeting with Tan we had a clear idea of what the process was going to be like, and what advantages an independent architect can bring to the project.
Q.What was your design intention?
A. Homeowner: Stephen
SALA Architects: Joe Metzler, AIA
We wanted to convert our 70’s home into something architectural from the Arts & Crafts period. From the designs of Frank Lloyd Wright, Greene & Greene, Purcell & Elmslie and Charles Rennie Mackintosh, we saw an opportunity to transform our home.
Homeowner: Shane and Erinn
Architect: SALA Architects, Eric Odor, AIA
We wanted a home that would be respectful of our neighborhood. We did not want to end up with an oversized home on our lot. A home that was distinctly ours, but paid homage to the homes, streets, and Linden Hills neighborhood.
Homeowner: Jeff
Architect: CityDeskStudio, Christian Dean
Simplicity. Clean, minimal design with well- thought out spaces.
Homeowner: Scott & Jen
Architect: Nguyen Architects, Tan Nguyen, AIA
We wanted to have more useful space. The home’s biggest problems were impractical wall angles and open spaces that just seemed like a waste of space. We wanted a timeless modern look, rather than an 80’s contemporary look.
Homeowner: David
Architect: David Heide Design Studio
With a cramped rear entry area that is realistically the only entry used (the house is on a busy urban street), the addition solved the traffic flow and space planning problems while creating a workable kitchen with room for dining.
Homeowner: Jack and Mary
Sarah Nettleton Architects, Sarah Nettleton, AIA
A modern take on the tried and true self-sufficient country farmhouse. We integrated design, landscape and the home itself to blend and support each other for a low maintenance and delightful place to live.
Q. What type of home did you want?
A. Homeowner: Ric and Maureen
Architect: SALA Architects, Katherine Hillbrand, AIA
We thought we wanted a bungalow, but after consulting with Katherine, she sketched this home and we loved it.
Homeowner: Rich & Lynn
Architect: SALA Architects, Kelly Davis, AIA, Tim Old
A home with an open floor plan; one that would take advantage of the beautiful park outside our windows. The architects had to steer me away from my thoughts about having multi-paned windows reminiscent of my most recent home, a colonial. They convinced me to go with clean sheets of glass. The windows are amazing, framing the parklands and bringing the outdoors in.
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Sarah Nettleton Architects 612-812-6075,www.sarah-architects.comSarah Nettleton, AIA40790 Waring Road, St. Peter, MN 56082 Directions: I-494 W/MN-5 W. Exit 10B to merge onto US-169 S. Exit MN-112 E. West on Bridge St. South on Smith St. turns into eastbound Smith St. South on Main St. Main St. turns into Cty. Rd. 36. West on Cty. Rd. 23 (390th St.) turns into southbound Cty. Rd. 23. East on Mocking Bird Hill Rd/Township Rd 89. North at Warning Rd. |
This split-level, originally constructed in the early 1970s, had a great location on Lake Minnetonka but was outdated and lacked character both inside and out. A major remodeling transformed the exterior as well as the primary interior spaces and also addressed structural deficiencies. The formerly awkward and cavernous spaces of the main level were completely redone to create warm and cozy rooms compatible with the owner’s collection of arts and crafts furnishings. An existing skylight is now hidden above an art glass ceiling over the kitchen. The owner, who designed and built the ceiling panels, is also completing art glass panels for many of the windows.
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SALA Architects, Inc. |
This home is a lantern glowing on the prairie, a beautiful modern home with the comforting benefit of a small green footprint. Showcasing The Luxury of Enough, this house will use 80% less energy than a typical Minnesota home and is planned to be LEED and Energy Star Certified. At 2,600 square feet, this is a three bedroom house that will live large. Offering a sunny place to sit in all seasons, most or all rooms have windows on two or three sides. Overlooking the Minnesota River valley, this house will be surrounded with a reestablished native prairie. Out the back kitchen door is a private edible landscape with fruit trees, vegetables and a solar oven.
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Nguyen Architects, Inc. |
Built in the 1960s and renovated twice, the 4,600 square-foot house on Lake Minnetonka was a jumble of outdated spaces. Leaky windows and poorly insulated walls made it an energy hog. Nguyen Architects gutted the existing shell and transformed it into a serene, clean-lined home. The cave-like kitchen was closed off from the rest of the house. Removing one wall opened it to the family room and views of the lake and woods. A new footprint, African mahogany plywood cabinets, soapstone and Caesarstone countertops and a masterfully proportioned island created a crisp, workable space.
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Rehkamp Larson Architects, Inc. |
Set back on the lot to give privacy from the street and provide a visual connection to nearby Lake Rose, this homes wraps up the best of urban home design on a tree-filled suburban lot with a view. The home incorporates the old-house urban characteristics of simple form, good craft, light-filled spaces and a front porch. The efficient 4-square plan is ordered around a central staircase which, along with the detached garage, allows for living spaces to wrap the perimeter of the home and access light and views. Small bedrooms on the upper level leave space for a convenient laundry and a sitting nook that doubles as a quiet getaway during the day or a last stop for the wind-down bedtime routine.
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Choice Wood Company |
Located in the traditionally styled Country Club neighborhood of eastern Edina, this unique property stands out in both style and size. While the neighborhood is filled with a mix of traditional two story colonial and tudor homes on single lots, this one and half story limestone house sits on three lots. The homeowners were intrigued by the original home’s massive stone form, but they knew the plan itself was a relic of the past. The home had never been updated (only the kitchen had seen a recent upgrade) and it consisted mostly of a series of dark rooms with small leaded glass window openings. The remodel reconfigures the plan and allows for bright, sunny and open interiors to successfully blend the history of place with the modern-day functionality and feel of home.
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SALA Architects, Inc. |
This 2250 sq. ft. three bedroom infill house with detached garage is nestled into an existing 42’x128’ lot in Linden Hills, and features an eclectic blend of traditional and contemporary elements which weave it into the existing neighborhood fabric while at the same time addressing the client’s desire for a more modern plan and sustainable living. This is a rare opportunity to visit a finely crafted LEED home and discuss the project’s design, construction and sustainable elements with the architect and contractor.
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SALA Architects, Inc. |
This residence, designed to Minnesota Greenstar standards, is a light filledhome in the long established Linden Hills neighborhood on a unique, narrow urban lot abutting Beard’s Plaisance. The new home’s timeless design incorporates both traditional and contemporary elements with creative use of interior spaces as well as outdoor gathering spaces for family and neighborhood. It boasts a highly energy efficient passive solar design with broad overhangs and minimal glazing on the north, an ICF foundation and wall system, and geothermal heating and cooling.
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CityDeskStudio, Inc. |
This home enjoys stunning elevated views over Sweeney Lake of Wirth Park and the Minneapolis skyline from almost anywhere in the house. This house is about matching an expansive interior volume with an equally bold site experience. The interior experience is an unexpected surprise after walking up to a low slung modern front. Simplify and edit was the overarching design principle for the design of this new modern home sitting on the crest of a hill. The homeowner, a designer and architecture buff set the tone for the home, inspired by his interest in mid century modernism. The design process was a collaborative and iterative process of homeowner initiated sketches and design team refinements thru a series of back and forth edits and enhancements.
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McMonigal Architects, LLC |
This extensive remodel maintains the architectural integrity of the 1920’s exterior while updating portions of the interior with modern European aesthetics. Over half of the house was remodeled including the kitchen, family, dining, three baths, and owner’s bedroom suite. Generous windows bringing daylight and downtown views to the kitchen and family room extend to new deck perched in treetops. The kitchen features multiple work areas with spacious storage, appliances including wok and steam cooking, all within sleek Italian cabinetry. The second-floor guest bath and owner’s closet doubled in size by incorporating adjoining spaces.
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Rehkamp Larson Architects, Inc. |
The renovation of this downtown Minneapolis loft began as an effort to bring warmth, refinement, storage/display space for art, books and wine collections and better acoustic separation to a raw, drafty space located in the original loading dock area of the building. A modern gas fireplace, clad in steel plate and wood slats, was added against an exposed concrete block wall with a 12’ long rolling steel bookshelf below. Tall mahogany shelving frames the glass garage door to the public courtyard and balconies were added to bring warmth and function to the space at its edges. The kitchen was extended and refinished with high gloss car lacquer, steel countertops and new lighting. The resulting space is a testament to the creative process and the collaboration of client, architect and craftspeople.
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SALA Architects, Inc. |
The ultimate significance of this home comes from a dynamic exchange between sensible materials being put to good use and organic thinking. Setting aside any stylistic rules, it reveals a devotion to originality in its versatile response to context, point in time, function and sustainable building objectives. Asymmetrical gables define distinct living areas and are connected by horizontal roofs that support drought tolerant vegetation. Each space serves a specific function, yet the spaces are somewhat open-ended and flexible, eliminating the need for additional square footage. Formed concrete walls give it a sculptural finish while durable concrete floors are polished to a high gloss revealing the nature of embedded stone aggregate. South facing windows and skylights enliven the rooms with natural light and solar warmth.
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David Heide Design Studio |
Built in 1922, this standard-issue Prairie School residence in Saint Paul was in need of a complete remodeling to restore its historic details and improve the function and layout of the first floor. The key to the remodeling was a 390-square foot addition to the rear of the house, which includes a new kitchen (the original kitchen is now the breakfast room), mudroom, and powder room, all with aesthetics to enhance the historic integrity of the original structure.
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David Heide Design Studio |
Constructed by the contractor of the Minnesota State Capital, this Beaux Arts Renaissance-style residence was once the home of Sinclair Lewis and is on the National Register of Historic Places. This residence is an example of a decades-long and on-going restoration and commitment to preservation. Built in 1914, much of the house has been thoughtfully updated: bathrooms, central air conditioning, and interior finishes. These modern amenities make the building relevant for today’s living, yet are respectful to its historic integrity.
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Charles R. Stinson, Architects |
This project is a complete renovation and addition to an existing traditional home for this family of four. It features a new pool and outdoor living area along with a very modern and fresh interior utilizing green products and materials. The exterior is a clean, modern abstraction to the very traditional structure. This project is a great example of blending into an existing traditional neighborhood. It shows how we can save and use most of an existing structure, making it all new and functional for a modern, active family with a wonderful indoor/outdoor relationship between shelter and a zen-like outdoor poolside living area.
