We all can understand the importance of one’s home fitting the needs of one’s lifestyle. Here are three examples of homes on the 2013 AIA MN Homes By Architects Tour that showcase how architects worked closely with owners to cater to their unique requirements and requests.
Wanting to create a welcoming space for guests and grandchildren, the owners of Home #2 (at right) in Excelsior worked with TreHus Architecture. A finished basement and playroom were built for the kids, and large entertaining spaces, including a wet bar and open kitchen, cater to the adults.
Rehkamp Larson Architects designed Home #5 (at left) for its creative owners. Built overlooking a scenic marsh in Minnetonka, this home was designed to fit the music and performing interests of the family. Functionality and artistic design are combined throughout this new home, which features a music teaching room, a wood-burning pizza oven, and a rooftop complete with solar panels and an herb garden.
Remodeled from a 1962 rambler in Minnetonka, Building Arts Sustainable Architecture + Construction worked closely with its owners—one an amputee and the other very tall—to reinvent Home #6 (at right). Desiring more space and accessibility but on a budget, the architects set about to change the size, character, and purpose served by the rooms. A deck and screen porch extends the flow to the exterior, making the home feel larger without adding square footage.
For more information on these homes and others on this year’s tour, please visit homesbyarchitects.org.
