From modern to traditional, large and small, discover design ideas for living
14 New and Remodeled Homes
In-Person: September 28 & 29, 2024
Online: September 28–October 13, 2024
Make space for dreams come true. Making your client’s dreams a reality is a complex process with many moving parts. A partner who understands this can be invaluable. At Marvin, we take considered care to deliver inspired design, high-quality windows and doors, and life-bettering innovations. It’s all to help you make space for distinction, expression, and everything that matters most to you and your clients.
marvin.com/architectural-resources
Your idea to create a grand getaway in a remote location?
It’s not crazy. Well, not completely crazy.
Perhaps you’ve dreamed of it: that place where family and friends gather year after year, where the stories told for generations are written.
At TEA2, we’ve created many such retreats. Our experience can make your experience better and the result, absolutely breathtaking.
From landscape and siting to managing local builders, there’s an enormous list of considerations, and we consider each one. Carefully. Like, how to integrate the outdoors in every season, or how to create entire compounds—boathouses, bunkhouses, remote offices, etc. that inspire connection and create private escapes, too. We’re here through the construction process, ensuring build quality, ensuring that every specification is met, right down to the nails used.
Most of all, we understand that a retreat is not just a highend, custom home in a rural setting: it’s a place designed for relaxation, rich experiences and lasting memories. Let’s talk about your dream retreat. Visit us at TEA2architects.com
MEET THE SPONSORS
HOME SPONSORS
Andersen Windows & Doors andersenwindows.com
Braden Construction bradenconstruction.com
H Window hwindow.com
Hagstrom Builder hagstrombuilder.com
Hurley Custom Cabinetry mhurleyinc.com
Marsden Building & Remodeling marsdenbr.com
Marvin marvin.com
Northland Woodworks northlandww.com
O’Hara Interiors oharainteriors.com
Otto Painting Design ottopaintingdesign.com
Pella Windows & Doors pella.com
Redstone Builders redstonebuilders.net
Ridge Construction ridgeconstructionllc.com
Ruth Johnson Interiors ruthjohnsoninteriors.com
Homes by Architects Tour Rules & FAQs
Can I take photos inside the tour homes? No, photography is not allowed inside the homes in order to respect the privacy of the people who live in them. We don’t want the owners’ personal items or photographs of their kids to end up on social media, and neither do they! It’s okay to take photos of the homes’ exteriors.
Photo galleries of most of the inperson tour homes will be available to ticket holders until October 13, 2024. Access the galleries by going to homesbyarchitects.org and following the instructions to enter password HBATTIME
Can I wear my shoes inside the tour homes? All visitors are required to wear a pair of shoe covers or remove their shoes before entering a home. Bring a pair of clean socks to wear inside the homes or grab a pair of booties at your first stop and take them with you to the rest of the homes. Please note that some homeowners may have requested that tour goers both remove their shoes and wear shoe covers; please defer to the volunteers.
Are pets allowed? In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Minnesota Human Rights Act, service animals are welcome on the tour. All other pets and animals, including emotional support animals, are not allowed on the tour as they do not qualify as service animals.
Service animals, as defined by federal law, are “individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability.” The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the handler’s disability.
Thank you for respecting the families who are opening their homes to tour goers by leaving non-service animals and pets at home.
Can I bring in my coffee and snacks? Beverages and food are not allowed inside the tour homes.
Where do I park? Residential street parking is available at the homes. Be prepared for a short walk depending on the location. Please refer to special
Showcase Renovations showcaserenovations.com
Streeter Custom Builder streeterhomes.com
Suncoast Twin Cities phiminnesota.com
Synergy Products synergy-trt.com
Terra Firma Building & Remodeling terrafirmamn.com
Western Systems westernsystemsllc.com
White Oaks Savanna whiteoakssavanna.com
parking instructions for Home #6 and page 16 and Home #14 on page 29.
Where do I use the bathroom?
Portable restrooms will be available at Homes #12 and #13 courtesy of White Oaks Savanna. Otherwise, bathrooms are not available during the tour. Please attend well-rested or plan to stop at a public restroom, such as at a gas station. Do not use the bathrooms in the tour homes.
Can I go through a home more than once? Yes, as long as you present your wristband at the home.
Where can I eat lunch? Tono Pizzeria will have a stand with wood-fired pizza slices available to purchase at Homes #12 and #13, courtesy of White Oaks Savanna.
What can I view online? Exclusive online content will be available for ticket holders to view until October 13, 2024. Explore 3D, interactive tours of Homes #1 and #2 and photo galleries. Go to homesbyarchitects.org and follow the instructions to enter password HBATTIME
WELCOME TO THE 2024 HOMES BY ARCHITECTS TOUR
Open your mind to the possibilities of home as designed by an architect on the 2024 Homes by Architects Tour. AIA Minnesota is proud to showcase houses that demonstrate some of the most creative ideas from our region’s talented residential architects.
Explore 12 stunning homes in person and check out exclusive digital content, including 3D digital tours of two homes and photo galleries, on the Homes by Architects Tour website ( homesbyarchitects.org ) with password HBATTIME . New this year, our Small Projects Showcase, featuring Homes #8–#10, demonstrates the value architects can bring to projects that are 600 square feet or smaller.
If you have questions or comments about the tour, please contact AIA Minnesota at 612-338-6763.
The Homes by Architects Tour is produced by the American Institute of Architects Minnesota. AIA Minnesota is the professional association for architects in the state of Minnesota. As a state component of AIA National, with three local chapters, AIA Minnesota has about 2,400 members and a staff of nine professionals. AIA Minnesota produces a regional conference, publishes ENTER, lobbies on behalf of the profession, and delivers continuing education to all members. aia-mn.org
12 homes in-person: September 28 & 29, 2024 10 AM–5 PM Two homes online: September 28–October 13, 2024 homesbyarchitects.org password: HBATTIME
Check out the Homes by Architects Tour website and find more information, including an interactive map of the homes: homesbyarchitects.org
TOUR LOCATIONS
In-Person (Homes #3–#14)
Take a route that works best for you—no need to go in numerical order. Due to construction and potential road closures, please check your route before beginning the tour.
Home #1
Minnetonka, MN
PAF Architecture
Home #2
Lutsen, MN
Grayspace Architecture
Home #3
7430 Valley Creek Drive Minnetrista, MN 55331
Imprint Architecture and Design
Home #4
162 West Lake Street Excelsior, MN 55331
PKA Architecture
Home #5
7280 Tartan Curve Eden Prairie, MN 55346
Christopher Strom Architects
Virtual (Homes #1 & #2)
Explore Homes #1 and #2 online from September 28–October 13 at homesbyarchitects.org with password HBATTIME
Home #6
11405 Park Ridge Drive West Minnetonka, MN 55305
E.J. Hansen, AIA
Home #7
8821 West 34th Street
Saint Louis Park, MN 55426
CityDeskStudio
Home #8
2019 Laurel Avenue West Minneapolis, MN 55405
SALA Architects
Small Projects Showcase
Home #9
2723 Harriet Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55408
Craft Design Build
Small Projects Showcase
Home #10
1218 Watson Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55116
Kell Architects
Small Projects Showcase
Home #11
619 Park Avenue Mahtomedi, MN 55115
SALA Architects
Home #12
7138 Lone Oak Trail North Grant, MN 55082
Christopher Strom Architects
Home #13
7164 Lone Oak Trail North Grant, MN 55082
PKA Architecture
Home #14
14565 Ostlund Trail North Marine on Saint Croix, MN 55047
Imprint Architecture and Design
Parking restrictions apply. See individual home page for details.
Portable restrooms available courtesy of sponsor White Oaks Savanna.
Tono Pizzeria food stand with slices available to purchase courtesy of sponsor White Oaks Savanna.
The Future of Design: The AIA Framework for Design Excellence
Whether in the context of residential, commercial, or public space, design has the power to reshape communities and improve lives. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has developed the Framework for Design Excellence, which helps architects articulate the ways in which design reaches beyond the drawings to build a better world.
AIA describes the Framework as a set of 10 defining principles of good design for the 21st century. Each principle is accompanied by a series of probing questions to inform progress toward a zero-carbon, equitable, resilient, and healthy built environment. The principles are to be explored by both the designer and the client regardless of the size, typology, or program of the project.
The 10 principles are:
• Design for Integration: Good design elevates any project, no matter how small, with a thoughtful process that delivers both beauty and function in balance. It is the element that binds all the principles together with a “big idea.”
• Design for Equitable Communities: Design solutions affect more than the client and current occupants. Good design positively impacts future occupants and the larger community.
• Design for Ecosystems: Good design mutually benefits human and nonhuman inhabitants.
• Design for Water: Good design conserves and improves the quality of water as a precious resource.
• Design for Economy: Good design adds value for owners, occupants, the community, and the planet, regardless of project size and budget.
• Design for Energy: Good design reduces energy use and eliminates dependence on fossil fuels while improving building performance, function, comfort, and enjoyment.
• D esign for Well-Being: Good design supports health and wellbeing for all people, considering physical, mental, and emotional effects on building occupants and the surrounding community.
• Design for Resources: Good design depends on informed material selection, balancing priorities to achieve durable, safe, and healthy projects with an equitable, sustainable supply chain to minimize possible negative impacts to the planet.
• D esign for Change: Adaptability, resilience, and reuse are essential to good design, which seeks to enhance usability, functionality, and value over time.
• Design for Discovery: Every project presents a unique opportunity to apply lessons learned from previous projects and gather information to refine the design and construction process.
Wild Rice Retreat, designed by Salmela Architect, won a 2022 AIA Minnesota Commendation for Excellence in Design for Well-Being.
Look for the ways
AIA Minnesota architects have incorporated these design principles into each tour project within the summaries and descriptions of each home.
PHOTOS
VIRTUAL TOUR: Minnetonka, MN
Tour this home online only at homesbyarchitects.org with password HBATTIME
ARCHITECT:
PAF Architecture
612-226-6064
pfreet@pafarc.com
pafarc.com
DESIGN TEAM: Patrick Freet, AIA Alice Schimunek
PROJECT TYPE: Remodel
AIA FRAMEWORK
FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE:
Design for Integration
Design for Well-being
MINNETONKA RESIDENCE
MINNETONKA
This lake home was updated with a new, modern, midcentury-inspired character. The focus of the home’s redesign was to create a bright, modern, and more stylish interior while also providing for general maintenance concerns with the aged exterior.
New windows at the front of the house create an engaging arrival at the home’s entrance and provide more daylight for the dining room and foyer. Light natural white oak flooring, trim, cabinetry, screen-like display walls, and white granite countertops create a bright and modern living area.
The screen walls provide the signature element of the home’s new architecture and provide display space for the owners’ personal keepsakes. The light wood screen walls provide some separation of the living spaces while enabling the daylight and views to filter through.
The blend of lighter interior materials, more windows, and an increase in daylight with an open, modern, architectural character provides a sense of beauty and delight that was missing in the home. Larger (and more) windows along the front-entry sidewalk ensures that the home feels welcoming while also increasing daylight inside. Larger (and more) windows in the kitchen brighten the space while offering a connection with nature and the lake that wasn’t there previously.
The open and light-filled interior with its carefully crafted screen-like display walls creates a sense of comfort and well-being that makes the home one-ofa-kind.
JEFF CORDS PHOTOGRAPHY
VIRTUAL TOUR: Lutsen, MN
Tour this home online only at homesbyarchitects.org with password HBATTIME
SKI HILL CABINS & SAUNAS
LUTSEN
The homeowners have been visiting the North Shore for decades and are passionate about all that it has to offer— including colorful small-town life, historic state parks, and countless waterfalls, rivers, and inland lakes, all woven together by endless miles of hiking, biking, and cross-country ski trails.
During one of their ski trips to Lutsen Mountains Ski Resort in 2012, they discovered and purchased a well-known but hard-to-find A-frame chalet built in 1968. In May 2019, they packed up their belongings and made Lutsen their home.
The original A-frame’s location was built in what was intended to be a small chalet village. Over five decades later, the idea was finally realized with the construction of four cabins.
The cabins are designed to be a home away from home for guests as they explore the region. The retreat offers four repeating cabin structures, each equipped with a private sauna
outbuilding and firepit, designed to provide guests with an immersive experience that connects them with the local ecosystem.
The structures stand tightly together, reducing the retreat’s overall footprint. Slight rotations in plan and section provide privacy between neighboring structures and create distinct public and private spaces inside and out. Elevated decks and large windows offer visitors generous views of the local forest, creating a sense of well-being.
A modest palette of materials includes corrugated metal cladding, cedar siding, plywood interiors, and floor-toceiling windows. A sense of discovery is embedded in the small community from the approach where the cabins are reminiscent of a small Scandinavian village with brightly colored outbuildings. On the interior, compact entryways open to expansive views, and sauna-matching kitchen backsplashes and CNC-cut plywood screens add a playful touch.
This two-story family home is nestled low into the ground, opening up into the forest and taking full advantage of the site’s natural slope and topography.
The homeowner’s bold use of color is delightful. The exterior of this home has a singular black material palette, clad in charred shou-sugi ban siding and a black asphalt shingle roof. It is accented by a beautiful blond cedar cut-out at the front entry, which also features a soft and striking melon-colored entry door. This pop of color is echoed throughout the home in the primary suite bathroom tile, the primary suite bedroom and playroom doors, and the custom wallpaper that makes its appearance in the kids’ bedrooms and powder room.
The program of this home is broken out into two similar footprints and has interior double gable wood trusses throughout the main gathering space and primary suite that echo the exterior’s roof line. There are large windows on all sides of the main gathering space, providing natural daylighting, panoramic views, and an indoor/outdoor connection to the landscaping features and wooded property beyond.
Not to be kept a secret for long, a secret room accessed through library shelves provides a place the homeowners can enjoy away from their little ones. The secret room will delight—if you can find it!
Aptly titled, TWO.FOLD is a study in geometry, form, function, light, color, and volume, with mental health and well-being the primary focus of this modern home.
ARCHITECT:
Imprint Architecture and Design 651-295-5623
imprintarchitecture.com
DESIGN TEAM: Jeremy Imhoff, AIA; Sara Imhoff, AIA; Patrick Moe, AIA
PROJECT TYPE: New Construction
AIA FRAMEWORK
FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE: Design for Well-being
HOME SPONSORS:
• Builder: Ridge Construction
• Window Supplier: Synergy Products
162 West Lake Street
Excelsior, MN 55331
ARCHITECT:
PKA Architecture
612-353-4920
pkarch.com
DESIGN TEAM:
EXCELSIOR BAY RESIDENCE
EXCELSIOR
Bob Le Moine, AIA; Kristine Anderson, Assoc. AIA; Ashley Vanden Bosch, AIA; Cynthia Burns, AIA; Zixing He
PROJECT TYPE: New Construction
AIA FRAMEWORK FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE:
Design for Energy
Design for Water
HOME SPONSORS:
• Builder: Streeter Custom Builder
• Wall Finishes: Otto Painting Design
Nestled within the picturesque confines of Excelsior, a quaint lakeside resort town brimming with eclectic charm, this newly constructed modern residence boasts an idyllic location on the shores of Lake Minnetonka. Positioned mere blocks away from sun-kissed beaches, Excelsior Commons, and the vibrant array of eateries and boutiques lining Water Street, this home offers unparalleled convenience amidst a tapestry of natural beauty, lake living, and urban vitality.
The architectural vision behind this home was driven by a desire to seamlessly blend into its surroundings while embracing contemporary design principles and sustainable practices. Despite the constraints of a narrow lakefront lot, the dwelling effortlessly combines traditional lake cottage aesthetics with sleek modern elements merging into the shoreline frontage.
Noteworthy among its sustainable features are the green roof, solar panels, and an electric car charging station,
embodying a commitment to ecoconscious living without compromising on style or functionality.
A highlight not to be overlooked is the meticulously restored historic garage—a charming testament to the area’s rich heritage. With its painstakingly preserved facade echoing the rhythmic charm of West Lake Street, this structure serves as both a nod to the past and a testament to the enduring allure of Excelsior’s architectural legacy.
PONDSIDE
A modest addition and large windows reconnect this 1980 Strom & Mayvilledesigned home to an adjacent pond.
After living in this home for 44 years, the owners had built lasting relationships with their neighbors and fallen in love with the aquatic wildlife. The homeowners, now in retirement, want to stay in their home as long as possible. This addition/remodel helps them do so by providing them with most amenities on the main level.
The previous floor plan lacked counter space, a mudroom, and a pantry, and the laundry was in the basement. The kitchen was tucked into the rear of the home with no views to the pond, dining room, or living room. The narrow staircase offered little connection to the lower level.
To solve these issues, the architects added 14 feet to the west side of the home. The new kitchen occupies the full width of the dining room and living room. A new mudroom/laundry room, office, and pantry support the newly open floor plan. A new stair opening with a custom steel railing allows a black ash slat wall to connect between levels.
The architects added four large, fivefoot-wide by six-foot-tall windows to the living room, which provide stunning views of the large willow tree, pond, and park beyond. In the kitchen, instead of a backsplash, a 12-foot-long window was added to bring ambient north light into the cooking area.
This home was designed with well-being and connection to nature in mind by increasing natural light and age-in-place amenities, allowing the owners many more pondside years.
7280 Tartan Curve Eden Prairie, MN 55346
ARCHITECT: Christopher Strom Architects hello@christopherstrom.com christopherstrom.com
DESIGN TEAM: Chris Strom, AIA; John Bergford, AIA; Brett Biwer, Assoc. AIA
PROJECT TYPE: Remodel & Addition
AIA FRAMEWORK
FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE: Design for Well-being
HOME SPONSORS:
• AV: Western Systems
• Interior Design: Ruth Johnson Interiors
• Wall Finishes: Otto Painting Design
EDEN PRAIRIE
11405 Park Ridge Drive West
Minnetonka, MN 55305
SHERWOOD FOREST MINNETONKA
Member of the American Institute of Architects
ARCHITECT:
E.J. Hansen, AIA 612-328-0881 ejhansen.com
DESIGN TEAM:
Eric J. Hansen, AIA; Jay Boyle
PROJECT TYPE: Remodel & Addition
AIA FRAMEWORK FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE:
Design for Economy & Energy
Design for Ecosystems & Water
Design for Integration
Design for Resources, Change & Discovery
Design for Well-being
HOME SPONSOR:
• Windows: Pella Windows & Doors
This 1954 midcentury modern home was originally designed and built by R.A. Norsen 70 years ago, who helped to pioneer the concept of “non-confined living for a confining climate.” The home is nestled into a deep lot and a mature neighborhood.
In this remodel, the mechanical equipment was moved to the vaulted attic, allowing the main floor space to become a three-quarter powder bath with a curbless shower. The salvaged original mahogany boards and trim are reused in the new sunroom and mudroom spaces, while new white oak cabinets and trim are used throughout the space.
New rough-sawn cedar siding with thick varying vertical battens stained the color of the surrounding tree bark help
the project connect to nature. Longer overhangs and eaves block out hot summer sun, creating shade yet allowing the sun to enter the house during the colder months.
The landscaping and gravel driveway are designed to respond to the ecosystem, with a no-mow yard and water collection on site. The goal is to limit yard work and let nature do the work around the exterior of the house.
With all the main features of the home on one level, the materials selection geared toward extended high performance, and the landscaping selected for minimal maintenance, the house should last a lifetime for the homeowners, allowing them to age in place in their neighborhood.
Tour goers should park only along the north side of the road. The road is narrow and parking on both sides of the road will block neighbors’ access to their homes.
RENDERING BY ERIC J. HANSEN, AIA
CRESCENDO
Situated on a wooded lot overlooking Minnehaha Creek, this home is the result of an exciting creative collaboration between the clients, who are architecture aficionados, and the architecture team.
When the couple decided to build a new modern home on the site of their former family home, they wanted a singlelevel living environment with a strong connection to the land and the creek. The owners envisioned the home as “a beautiful piece of architecture” where they could work, create, relax, and age gracefully in place with a family member, so they wanted a shared front door and a separate but equally beautiful apartment. They also wanted separation between respite (the primary suite) and work (a home office and a creative studio)—a simple request that drove the floor plan.
Inspired by the shared belief that “great architecture always has lift,” the architect responded to the site and the project goals with a striking modern home that features elevated roof lines and clerestory windows that create a sense of “lift” and fill the home with natural light.
The entryway opens to a pair of eyecatching modern half-staircases with a shared landing, creating a natural division between the two living environments and leading to a separate entry and mudroom for the apartment. This home’s thoughtful design allows the trio of residents to enjoy a fulfilling and creative life together, both today and in the future.
ARCHITECT:
CityDeskStudio 651-644-1106 citydeskstudio.com
DESIGN TEAM: Ben Awes, AIA; Chris Bach, AIA; Olivia Solari, Assoc. AIA; Dan Winden; Perri Kinsman
PROJECT TYPE: New Construction
AIA FRAMEWORK FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE:
Design for Discovery
Design for Economy
Design for Well-being
HOME SPONSOR:
• Builder: Ridge Construction
SAINT LOUIS PARK
Photo: Landmark
Chris Strom, AIA
Christopher Strom Architects christopherstrom.com
The American Institute of Architects Minnesota’s Residential Architect of Distinction Award recognizes a local architect for excellence in residential architecture. Congratulations to Chris Strom, AIA, recipient of the 2024 Residential Architect of Distinction Award.
Strom founded Christopher Strom Architects in 2014. (His firm designed Homes #5 and #12, on pages 15 and 23.) Christopher Strom Architects has received numerous design awards and Star Tribune Home of the Month selections for projects large and small. Strom received the AIA Minnesota Residential Emerging Architect Award in 2014 and the organization’s Young Architects Award in 2016.
Strom has been a leading advocate for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in the Twin Cities metro, advising both Minneapolis and Edina planning departments in their review of ADUrelated ordinances.
Small Projects Showcase
Creative design for small spaces. This year marks the introduction of the Small Projects Showcase, a special addition to the Homes by Architects Tour.
The showcased projects—Homes #8, #9, and #10—demonstrate the skill, creativity, and innovative design thinking architects bring to residential projects sized 600 square feet or smaller.
While most people think of bringing in an architect for a new home design or a complete home renovation, architects are adept at helping homeowners maximize existing spaces, renew assets within homes that may need to be repurposed or refreshed, or create small additions to existing spaces to make them work better for the occupants.
Small projects have become increasingly popular for many reasons, including the need to incorporate more home office spaces and with multigenerational living becoming more common in the Midwest. Additional drivers include a population that wishes to age in place where a prior design isn’t a good fit, or a desire for greater efficiency of flow in an existing home.
Great design is important at all scales. See these smart solutions on display on the Homes by Architects Tour at Homes #8–#10.
DESIGN
HOME SPONSOR:
• Builder: Terra Firma Building & Remodeling
There may be a short wait to get in. Because these projects are smaller in size than other tour homes, please note that there may be a short wait to get in to ensure the space is not too crowded inside. Please defer to the volunteers. We appreciate your understanding!
HIP JOINT
MINNEAPOLIS
PROJECT TYPE: bathroom remodel, office/ guest room remodel, fixing of a failing wall/roof intersection • 600 sf
A post-COVID renovation of this century-old single-level bungalow updated and enlarged its only bathroom by expanding into the closet of the adjacent guest-room-turnedoffice. New custom wardrobes were inserted, matching original trim details, and a murphy bed helps to create a flexible, multi-purpose, guest/office space.
Most dramatically, the architect-owner expanded the project’s scope to include a much-needed resolution to a failing roof-towall intersection that was cracking plaster and pushing out an exterior-bearing wall. The solution for which ultimately created a centrally located living pavilion under a subtly hipped ceiling, framed into the existing roofline and capped with a new skylight.
This project proves it is possible to achieve greater energy efficiency in older homes without sacrificing contemporary design aesthetics. In conjunction with a new mudroom and remodeled front porch, this classic Minneapolis two-story home received a full energy retrofit including continuous exterior insulation, new siding, windows, mechanical systems, and a full solar shingle roof to drastically reduce the home’s energy needs and all but eliminate direct reliance on fossil fuels.
Utilizing new materials and building strategies, the architect-owner was able to achieve his energy reduction goals while modernizing the home’s exterior in a way that simultaneously stands out from and pays homage to its more traditional surroundings.
After decades of living and raising children in this modest Tudor cottage, the retired homeowners treated themselves to a mainlevel remodel. The kitchen bump-out adds four feet to the corner-lot home, providing ample storage and significant character and daylight.
With a compact footprint, the design offers functional flexibility for entertainment and daily usage. The remodeled bathroom boasts new polished nickel vanity legs and built-ins, making the most of the petite corners and materials that blend with its big-brother kitchen.
Outside, the windows and window boxes follow the original home details, rendering the addition virtually indistinguishable from the original home.
DESIGN TEAM: Nathaniel Tollefson, AIA; Isaac Tapp, Assoc. AIA
AIA FRAMEWORK FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE:
Design for Energy
ARCHITECT: Kell Architects 612-812-5687 kellarchitects.com
DESIGN TEAM: Meghan Kell, AIA; Ann Hauer, Assoc. AIA; Kelly Kraemmer
AIA FRAMEWORK FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE: Design for Integration
HOME SPONSOR:
• Builder: Braden Construction
619 Park Avenue
Mahtomedi, MN 55115
ARCHITECT:
SALA Architects
612-767-4139
salaarc.com
DESIGN TEAM:
David O’Brien Wagner, AIA; Ross Davidson, AIA; Paul Buum, AIA; Sarah Gastler, Assoc. AIA
PROJECT TYPE: New Construction
AIA FRAMEWORK
FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE: Design for Energy Design for Well-being
HOME SPONSORS:
• Builder: Showcase Renovations
• Window Supplier: Synergy Products
DUCK DUCK
MAHTOMEDI
Crafted as a down-to-earth lake home, this house sits quietly along the water’s edge. Materials, surfaces, and details have been carefully selected and assembled to harmonize with the site and to manifest an environment of connection and well-being.
The architecture is one of simple forms and structural expression. This can be seen in the strong gable roofs with long ridgeline running east to west, supported by a visual rhythm of timber beams and purlins. These timber supports reach past the building with large sheltering overhangs that shade the building in summer and protect it from the elements.
Timber elements continue inside as well, where beams carry across the lofted upstairs ceilings, and on the main level where visible timber columns, beams,
and joists help create a richly textured space. These elements not only provide visual warmth, but lend an understanding of the home’s structural logic.
Interior spaces are unified by a comforting palette, including warm Douglas fir wood, wide-plank oak flooring, whitewashed cabinetry, and natural quartzite countertops. Although spaces are modestly scaled, their open, casual flow, coupled with generous daylight from windows, make the home live much larger than its square footage suggests.
Windows and doors have been orchestrated to take advantage of the home’s location, visually connecting spaces with the lake, bathing the interior with balanced daylight, and creating a home that can literally open itself to the outdoors.
ELYSIAN FIELDS
The clients dreamed of a home that celebrated the beauty of Minnesota’s ever-changing landscape and blurred the line between indoor and outdoor. They wanted a home with a traditional exterior, impressive entry, and modern interiors. Natural materials adorn the exterior, including cedar, stone, stucco, and copper, acting as “jewelry” for the home. The cedar and copper will patina with time, adding richness and texture to the home.
The large site provides spectacular views of the restored prairie landscape. All four sides of this home are refined and architecturally resolved, since each elevation is highly visible in the open prairie setting. It is nestled behind a hill, instead of sitting on top of it, so it is blocked from the neighbors and respects the neighbors’ views.
The house is dramatically revealed as visitors drive around the hill. The front facade has areas of transparency that
reveal glimpses of the prairie beyond. A double-height stair hall with an 18-foothigh wall of windows welcomes visitors. Once inside, a low-ceiling entry vestibule opens to a double-height living room that has a two-story wall of windows with expansive views of the prairie. A 20-footlong folding door extends the indoor living seamlessly to the outdoor prairie patio. A flat roof with a parapet conceals the home’s solar panels across the main cross gable.
ARCHITECT: Christopher Strom Architects hello@christopherstrom.com christopherstrom.com
DESIGN TEAM: Chris Strom, AIA; Eric Johnson, AIA, Rachel Alexander, AIA
PROJECT TYPE: New Construction
AIA FRAMEWORK FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE:
Design for Ecosystem
A Tono Pizzeria stand with pizza slices to purchase and portable restrooms will be available at Homes #12 and #13 courtesy of White Oaks Savanna.
Design for Energy
Design for Well-being
HOME SPONSORS:
• Builder: Redstone Builders
• Cabinetry: Northland Woodworks
• Development: White Oaks Savanna
• Interior Design: O’Hara Interiors
• Windows: Andersen Windows & Doors
For homes that deserve nothing less than extraordinary, choose the contemporary style of Pella ® products. Stunning modern features and sleek, minimal profiles bring expansive views and beautiful inspiration to your home. Our windows and doors are exquisitely detailed and made-to-order just for you .
Experience Pella products on this year’s tour: Home #6 | E.J. Hansen, AIA
After living in an architect-designed midcentury home in Golden Valley for many years, the homeowners wanted to design and build a new forever home. The couple commissioned the team to design a new home that reflects their German and Nordic heritage and passion for sustainability. They also wanted the home to accommodate aging in place and multigenerational living in the future.
Taking cues from traditional European and Scandinavian farmhouses, the architecture team designed a discreet, wood-clad home and nestled it into the site to create unobstructed views of wetlands, the surrounding prairie, and a historic barn. A tall natural grade creates a formal entry court while four pavilions house two separate primary suites, an integrated kitchen/dining/living area, the den, pantry, laundry and mudroom, and the garage with electric car charging stations. An alfresco living space with a vegetable garden creates a natural indoor/outdoor connection.
Reflecting the homeowners’ commitment to sustainability, the home features energy-efficient products and building techniques including cutting-edge assembles with an insulated concrete form (ICF) foundation, structural insulated panels (SIPs), weatherresistant siding made from 70% recycled materials, and FSC-certified thermally modified wood siding, a durable standing seam metal roof, and solar panels.
The energy-efficient HVAC system features geothermal heating with highefficiency forced air and radiant in-floor heat. Modern windows and sliding glass doors fill the house with daylight, while the lighting plan minimizes nighttime light pollution and helps keep the prairie skies dark for the White Oaks Savanna community.
A Tono Pizzeria stand with pizza slices to purchase and portable restrooms will be available at Homes #12 and #13 courtesy of White Oaks Savanna.
DESIGN HONORS
Carl Gauley, AIA
Grayspace Architecture grayspacearchitecture.com
The American Institute of Architects Minnesota’s Residential Emerging Architect Award recognizes a local architect who demonstrates the emergence of a strong architectural voice. Congratulations to Carl Gauley, AIA, recipient of the 2024 Residential Emerging Residential Architect Award.
1
2 X House, MI
Snow Kreilich
3 Ski Hill Cabins & Saunas, Lutsen,
Gauley developed his craft at three nationally recognized Minneapolis architecture and design firms, including two—VJAA and Snow Kreilich Architects—that received the prestigious AIA Firm Award. At VJAA, Coen + Partners, and Snow Kreilich, Gauley contributed to a number of awardwinning residential projects across the country. He launched his own residential practice, Grayspace Architecture, in 2019. (Grayspace Architecture designed Home #2, available to explore on the virtual tour, seen on page 11.)
When your fireplace becomes your special place.
952-546-6162
6801 Wayzata Boulevard St. Louis Park, MN 55426
Sherwood Forest by E.J. Hansen features the Warmboard Comfort System, a state-of-the-art radiant floor heating solution which provides the ultimate in comfort and energy-savings.
Half the architects featured on this tour have used Warmboard over the past couple years.
For more information, ask your architect or visit warmboard.com
14565
KYODAI
In the fall of 2022, the architect and designer were approached by two long-time friends who presented the extraordinary opportunity to design a new home on the coattails of their existing Frank Lloyd Wright home. The latter, named Bear Run by its owners— referencing both Fallingwater’s location and the owners’ dogs Bear II and Yoshi— graces the lakefront property next door to this tour home and has its own unique history.
The house incorporates lake views and a neighboring connection to the Wright home into a design geared for well-being and energy efficiency. Lowmaintenance, locally sourced, thermally modified pine exteriors are joined with concrete surfaces throughout the home, sourced by a local fabricator. Fireplaces are designed to give an appearance of
stone, but are made of maintenance-free concrete masonry units. The no-mow fescue limits maintenance and watering to assist with aging in place and to protect the ecosystem.
The home uses many passive design strategies, including radiant heat through a polished slab-on-grade floor, an electric heat pump for air conditioning, future solar and electric car charging station, triple-pane windows, and extra insulation throughout the building envelope.
Japanese-influenced design resulted in an origami-like roof. The roof reaches out and frames the Frank Lloyd Wright home next door as if to shake its hand. The houses are like two brothers, similar yet different, inspiring this home’s name: kYodai, meaning “brother” in Japanese.
Tour goers should park along Ostlund Trail North. (Do not park in the home’s driveway/gravel road.) The home will be a five to eight minute walk down the gravel road. A six-person golf cart will be available courtesy of Hagstrom Builder for those who prefer not to walk.
ARCHITECT: Imprint Architecture and Design 651-440-0334
imprintarchitecture.com
DESIGN TEAM:
Jeremy Imhoff, AIA; Sara Imhoff, AIA; Patrick Moe, AIA
PROJECT TYPE: New Construction
AIA FRAMEWORK
FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE:
Design for Energy
Design for Integration
Design for Resources
Design for Well-being
HOME SPONSORS:
• Builder: Hagstrom Builder
• Windows: Andersen Windows & Doors
MARINE ON SAINT CROIX
Ostlund Trail North Marine on Saint Croix, MN 55047
Keep Touring Online
Dive deeper into the architect-designed difference from the comfort of home. Log on to the 2024 Homes by Architects Tour exclusive virtual tour experience September 28–October 13 at homesbyarchitects.org. Use password HBATTIME to explore Homes #1 and #2 online only.
Homes #1 and #2 are the stars of the virtual tour—you can’t see them during the in-person tour weekend. Explore these homes using interactive, 3D software called Matterport. You may have seen it on our previous virtual tours!
Scroll through photo galleries of tour homes—including most of the homes you saw in person this weekend.
Stay tuned for more details on a live virtual event with Home #2’s Carl Gauley, AIA! Get a chance to connect with this home’s architect to learn more about the project and ask all of your questions. Find the date, time, and Zoom link to register for this event after entering password HBATTIME at homesbyarchitects.org
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Top Photo: Home #1, a Minnetonka remodel designed by PAF Architecture. Read more on page
Bottom Photo: Home #2, a new Lutsen getaway designed by Grayspace Architecture. Read more on page 11.
JEFF
Questions to Ask Your Architect
Are you ready to hire an architect? Learn what questions will inform your search for a design partner.
Asking the right questions before hiring an architect for your dream home project is essential for avoiding headaches down the road. You want to select an architect who makes you feel comfortable and understands your goals, and one whose work style aligns with how you plan to proceed.
• What are the biggest design challenges and considerations of my project? The architect will likely have insights or knowledge beyond what you have explored. They should have ideas for how to rise to those challenges and embrace all project considerations.
• How much time for feedback do I need to commit? Do you want to be involved in the tiniest details, or do you plan to be relatively hands-off? How does this fit in with the architect’s timeline and workflow? Being honest up front about what kind of client you are in this regard—which includes when you’re best able to meet and how—and learning what the architect expects from you will keep things running smoothly. This conversation will also aid in setting a timeline and budget for the project overall.
• What will you show me along the way to explain the project? Can you expect renderings or drawings before the construction process starts? Don’t be afraid to ask for sketches or alternative designs, samples, or showroom visits. Ask about the impact modifications or alternatives will do to both the budget and timeline.
• Who is on my team? Unless you choose a solo practitioner, there are many people at an architecture firm who will contribute to your project. Who will you be dealing with directly? Is it the same person who is designing your project? Ask for introductions!
• How will you handle the unexpected? The years of the pandemic have created challenges with the supply chain, as well as staffing and connecting with clients. Your architect should be able to tell you how they have adapted their workstyle, and how they deal with the unexpected in any project.
• Do you have references? Speaking to an architect’s references, typically past clients and contractor partners, will not just reassure you that you’ve found a reputable architect, but will also give insight into their work style and approach.
• What’s your fee structure, and what sort of costs can I expect? Make sure your architect is open with you about any additional costs that may accrue outside of the contract. You may also learn more about your architect’s track record regarding cost estimating and completing projects within budget by talking to their references.
• What’s your relationship with the contractor? Does the architect have a contractor they partner with regularly? If not, will they help you identify the right contractor for your project? Will you be expected to deal with the contractor directly, or will the architect work with them?
Ready to hire an architect?
Visit AIA Minnesota’s Architecture Firm Directory to find an architect near you: aia-mn.org/firm-directory
RYAN
SIEMERS
More and more Minnesotans are choosing native plants for their landscaping needs.
Native plantings can blend a homestead into a landscape, encourage pollinator health, manage rainwater and runoff, and protect our heritage vegetation for generations to come. Native plantings are often cost-effective and require less maintenance, making them attractive for busy families and those aging in place.
Native plants may also be more resistant to invasive pests and diseases, making them a hearty and beautiful addition to a home. Gardens can be created for pollinators, hummingbirds, wildlife, rain, sun, and more. A designer can help you identify the right native planting types to incorporate into your site, often consulting a landscape architect for best selections and planting practices.
There are many tools available for creating a native landscape around your home. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the University of Minnesota Extension service have many informational tools to help you select the right plants for your gardens, and many even provide seeds and supplies to help your garden succeed.
Don’t miss the beautiful native gardens and landscapes on the Homes by Architects Tour.
Landscaping That Looks Like Home
Right: Home #6 from the 2022 tour, designed by hw2 design, honors its natural prairie setting at White Oaks Savanna in Grant with native landscaping.
The U.S. Department of Energy notes that heat pump systems provide an energy-efficient alternative to furnaces and air conditioners for all climates.
Prior generations of heat pump technology have struggled to perform in the coldest climates, but technological advances have made them a costeffective and efficient tool for Minnesota homes.
Heat pumps work much like a refrigerator: they use electricity to transfer heat from a cool space to a warm space, making the cool space (your home’s interior) cooler and the warm space (such as the outdoors) warmer in summer, and, in the winter, warming the air from the outdoors. Because the heat is transferred, rather than created, heat
pumps can be significantly more efficient at keeping your home comfortable throughout the year. Heat pumps are also more efficient at dehumidifying than many furnace and air conditioning systems, creating further energy savings.
Heat can be transferred from the air, from water, or from geothermal sources, so there are many options for homeowners considering the technology. Technological advances in compressors and motors continue to maximize energy efficiency and electrical savings, and more and more Minnesota homes are incorporating them as the primary heating and cooling mechanism.
While actual cost savings vary based on fuel prices and weather conditions, homes with heat pumps save significant costs and reduce their environmental impact.
Learn more about heat pumps at energy.gov/heat-pumps.
