17 New and Remodeled Homes In-Person: September 27 & 28, 2025
Online: September 27–October 12, 2025
Choosing an architect is like choosing a mate. It should be about more than looks.
But...oh hi there Gorgeous!
Like you, we love houses that are head turners. But the less apparent distinction of a TEA2 home is the way its beauty continues to unfold, season after season, decade after decade.
That requires careful consideration of every view, every path of the sun, all year long. It means finding the ideal balance between openness and intimacy. Complementing the landscape perfectly. Attending to details many would overlook.
You’ll be surprised how incredibly thoughtful, thorough and collaborative we are. It’s not about a specific style; we design modern and traditional homes, stately and modest, with equal enthusiasm. Our unique approach works—as demonstrated by the clients who’ve asked us to create second and third houses.
Want a home that inspires delight, well after it’s no longer the fresh face on the block? Then you’ve come to the right architect. Visit TEA2architects.com to learn more
TEA2 Architects | L.Cramer Builders
“The
thin profiles really helped us create this blurring of whether you are inside or outside.”
Paul Lewandowski Architect, Paul Designs Project
For expert tools, resources, and support, visit marvin.com/pros.
Bring authentic modern design, precision engineering, and industry-leading innovation to your clients with Marvin Modern windows and doors. High-Density Fiberglass provides maximum material strength, thermal performance, and expansive glass. This modular design system helps you achieve any vision of true modern architecture.
MEET THE SPONSORS
At Marvin, we are driven to imagine and create better ways of living. Marvin windows and doors bring more natural light, fresh air and expansive views to our spaces.
Since 1912, Marvin has been a family-owned and -led company, with a legacy of innovation and commitment to the highest quality. Marvin products are meticulously designed and skillfully crafted to deliver quality, beauty, and performance. Learn more at marvin.com/architecturalresources.
DWELL44 is the Twin Cities’ premier destination for luxury cabinetry, windows and siding, and home furnishings. Work with our skilled team to curate the space of your dreams with customizable products engineered to last a lifetime. Serving architects, builders, designers, and homeowners in our collaborative and dynamic showroom—one convenient location, endless possibilities. dwell44.com
HOME SPONSORS
Acucraft acucraft.com
Align Building & Remodeling alignbr.com
Andersen Windows & Doors andersenwindows.com
CNC Remodeling cncremodeling.net
Hage Homes hagehomes.com
Hagstrom Builder hagstrombuilder.com
Indicia indiciallc.com
InUnison Design inunisondesign.com
Kyle Hunt & Partners kylehuntandpartners.com
Lelch lelchav.com
MDS Remodeling mdsremodeling.com
MN Lifestyles jon@mnlifestyles.com
Minnesota Fine Homes mnfinehome.com
ORIJIN STONE orijinstone.com
Otto Painting Design ottopaintingdesign.com
Pella pella.com
Phillips Garden phillipsgarden.com
Redstone Builders redstonebuilders.net
River Heights Outdoor Solutions riverheightsoutdoorsolutions.com
Showcase Renovations showcaserenovations.com
Sustainable 9 sustainable9.com
Tangletown Gardens tangletowngardens.com
Trestle Homes trestlehomes.com
White Oaks Savanna whiteoakssavanna.com
GOLD SPONSOR SILVER SPONSOR
WELCOME TO THE 2025 HOMES BY ARCHITECTS TOUR
Open your mind to the possibilities of home as designed by an architect on the 2025 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 16 stunning homes in person and check out exclusive digital content, including a 3D digital tour of a Wisconsin cabin, photo galleries, and an architect interview, on the Homes by Architects Tour website ( homesbyarchitects.org ) with password HOUSEPARTY .
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 eight 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
16 homes in-person: September 27 & 28, 2025 10 AM–5 PM
Three homes online: September 27–October 12, 2025 homesbyarchitects.org password: HOUSEPARTY
TOUR LOCATIONS
In-Person (Homes #2–#17)
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
Trego, WI
Christopher Strom Architects Virtual
Home #2
341 W. Lake Street Orono, MN 55356
Shelter Architecture
Home #3
18325 Northome Boulevard Wayzata, MN 55391
Sharratt Design & Company (Address is for shuttle service.)
Home #4
7410 164th Avenue NW Ramsey, Minnesota 55303
Chris Doehrmann Architect, Inc.
Virtual (Homes #1, #7 & #10)
Explore Homes #1, #7, and #10 online September 27–October 12 at homesbyarchitects.org with password HOUSEPARTY
Home #5
709 Peninsula Point Road Shakopee, MN 55379
Unfold Architecture
Home #6
811 Peninsula Point Road Shakopee, MN 55379
Unfold Architecture
Home #7
15223 Lake Street Extension Minnetonka, MN 55345
Rivers Barden Architects
In-person & virtual
Home #8 5341 Dominick Drive Minnetonka, MN 55343
Chisel Architecture
Home #9
8975 Mariabo Circle Bloomington, MN 55438
Kurt Baum Architects
Home #10
518 Ardmore Drive Golden Valley, MN 55422 Keep In-person & virtual
Home #11
4221 Ewing Avenue S. Minneapolis, MN 55410
Alchemy
Home #12
2018 Thom Drive Arden Hills, MN 55112
SALA Architects
Small Projects Showcase
Home #13
621 Montcalm Place
St. Paul, MN 55116
Kell Architects
Small Projects Showcase Home #14
11 Salem Lane
Sunfish Lake, MN 55118
PKA Architecture
Home #15
4312 Cottage Park Road
White Bear Lake, MN 55110
Rehkamp Larson Architects
Home #16
939 Arbor Avenue
Mahtomedi, MN 55115
David Heide Design Studio
Home #17
7285 Lone Oak Trail N. Grant, MN 55082 PLAAD
Parking restrictions apply. See individual home page for details.
Home only accessible via shuttle bus. 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. Note: Pizzas will not be made on-site. Instead, they will be delivered with $5 slices available at various times each hour.
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. 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 12, 2025. Access the galleries by going to homesbyarchitects.org and following the instructions to enter password HOUSEPARTY
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. 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? 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.
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. Follow all parking signage and do not block driveways. Refer to each home’s program guidebook page or website page for additional instructions.
Where do I use the bathroom?
Portable restrooms will be available at Home #17 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 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 Home #17 courtesy of White Oaks Savanna. Note: Pizzas will not be made on-site. Instead, they will be delivered with $5 slices available at various times each hour.
What can I view online? Exclusive online content will be available for ticket holders to view until October 12, 2025. Explore 3D, interactive tours of Homes #1, #7, and #10, an interview with the architect of Home #7, and photo galleries. Go to homesbyarchitects.org and follow the instructions to enter password HOUSEPARTY
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.
Infill House, designed by Office Hughes Olsen, won a 2023 AIA Minnesota Commendation for Excellence in Design for Economy.
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 BY
DAN JANDL
VIRTUAL TOUR: Trego, WI
Tour this home online only at homesbyarchitects.org with password HOUSEPARTY
PEAR LAKE CAMP
TREGO, WI
The homeowners have a deep emotional connection to their wooded lakeside lot in northern Wisconsin. The cabin began as a one-room, timber-framed cabin built by hand in the 1990s, with a bunkhouse and a “party barn” added over time to entertain guests. The owners now desired a larger cabin with a full kitchen and additional bedrooms that respected their established patterns of activities.
The original cabin was relocated further inland on the site, and a new home was designed with modern amenities while still maintaining a cozy cabin feel. The cabin is located on a peninsula with 180-degree views of the lake. The windows were strategically placed to maximize lake views, provide natural light, and facilitate cross breezes. Structural insulated panels (SIPs) used on the roof and exterior insulation of the walls prevent thermal bridging and increase energy efficiency.
As a nod to the original cabin, the new cabin incorporates timber framing (no nails or metal connections!) in the kitchen/great room. Those spaces are designed as the main gathering area with food prep as a shared activity. The great room seating is open to the kitchen for easy conversation and bookended by views of the lake on one side and a stone fireplace on the other.
The entry is nestled between two gables and opens up to an inviting dining room table and a framed view of the lake. The owners’ suite is on the ground level, allowing the homeowners to age in place, and the lower-level guest bedrooms and three-sided screened porch all offer views of the lake.
ARCHITECT: Christopher Strom Architects hello@christopherstrom.com christopherstrom.com
DESIGN TEAM: Chris Strom, AIA; Eric Johnson, AIA; John Bergford, AIA; Brett Biwer, Assoc. AIA
PROJECT TYPE: New Construction
AIA FRAMEWORK FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE:
Design for Well-being
HOME SPONSORS:
• Interior Design: Indicia
• Stonework: ORIJIN STONE
• Windows: Marvin
341 W. Lake Street
See parking details below.
ARCHITECT:
Shelter Architecture
612-870-4081
shelterarchitecture.com
DESIGN TEAM:
Greg Elsner, AIA; Beth Halstenson, AIA; John Barbour, FAIA; David Jensen, Assoc. AIA; Kersten Sinclair; Jackie Colpaert; Lisa Antenucci
PROJECT TYPE: New Construction
AIA FRAMEWORK
FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE: Design for Energy
Design for Well-Being
HOME SPONSORS:
• Builder: Sustainable 9
• Cabinets, Windows & Furniture
Supplier: DWELL44
WEST LAKE RESIDENCE
After years of Chicago condo living, the homeowners returned to Minnesota in search of the perfect place to plant their growing family. The architects nestled their new home into the hillside and oriented it toward the adjacent lake, offering sweeping views of the site from the main living spaces. The heart of the home is a vaulted, light-filled kitchen, living, and dining area. Transom windows and multi-panel sliding doors flood the space with natural light and seamlessly connect indoors to out. A dramatic, lake-facing screened porch extends the volume of the main living area outside, further embracing the landscape.
The fully electric, solar-ready home features a geothermal heating and
cooling system, an energy recovery ventilator, and high-efficiency, triplepane windows. A dedicated office and studio wing creates separation between work and play spaces, while a first-floor guest suite accommodates visitors, multigenerational living, and aging in place. A thoughtfully designed mudroom with a “family organization zone” keeps daily life running smoothly.
Custom millwork adds warmth and function, from a cozy white oak reading nook at the entry to a sliding slat screen that artfully conceals the TV. And a calming, nature-inspired palette enhances the design’s modern yet inviting character, creating a sanctuary that is beautiful, practical, and a true return to “home.”
Street and shoulder parking is available on on the north side of Bayside Road near the entrance to W. Lake Street, and on the east and west sides of Tonkawa Road behind the residence. See a parking map at homesbyarchitects.org/west-lake-residenceparking-map
ORONO
AN ACTIVE WATERLIFE
WAYZATA
The active lifestyle of the clients, centered on tennis, pickleball, and onthe-water entertaining, coupled with the acquisition of a beautiful west-facing lakefront lot on Lake Minnetonka, presented an opportunity to create a home that will meet the family’s needs for today and generations to come.
The design takes full advantage of striking lake views that stretch into the distance and maximizes on-lake activities. Every major room has extensive lake view-oriented glazing. The design features a spacious, flowing, open concept to integrate within the constraints of the site.
To avoid impacting the lakefront, a pickleball court sits within the footprint of the main house, which allows usage throughout the year. A stormwater retention system was engineered and built under the outdoor tennis court, allowing impervious surface to be mitigated through engineering calculation to 16 percent when 25 percent is the maximum permitted. The City of Deephaven applauded the use of this type of system (usually related to commercial construction), which greatly reduces water impacts on this lakefront site.
ARCHITECT: Sharratt Design & Company 952-470-9750 sharrattdesign.com
DESIGN TEAM: Michael Sharratt, AIA; Nora Kirkwold; Rick Henriksen; Jason Lucas
PROJECT TYPE: New Construction
AIA FRAMEWORK FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE: Design for Water
The owners of this home in Ramsey purchased it for its rural location and wooded views, but the existing home lacked the “wow factor” they desired and did not support the way they wanted to live. They wanted to transform their nondescript late 1960s house into a clean modern home that was visually dynamic, with a layout that would give them a more open floor plan and one-level living.
To achieve their exterior goals, the gables, vinyl siding, and small windows were replaced with shed and flat roofs, composite panels, shiplap siding, panoramic windows, and and aluminum and glass garage doors.
To achieve an open floor plan and provide one-level living, the stairs were reversed and the front porch was
enclosed with a flat roof to provide the necessary space to complete the mainlevel primary suite. The old living room became the new primary bedroom, and the new shed-roof design allowed for a vaulted ceiling in the new living room, creating the dynamic space they lacked in the original design.
This radical transformation utilizes the existing foundation without any excavation or new foundation required. The addition of new windows, siding, insulation, and HVAC systems drastically improve the overall energy efficiency of the home. This incredible redesign achieved and exceeded the homeowners’ goals within a much lower budget than if they had built a new home.
There are six parking spaces in front of the home and parking along 167th Avenue NW. If the ground is dry, tour goers are also welcome to park in the grass next to the driveway between the parking spots and the road.
ARCHITECT:
Chris Doehrmann Architect, Inc. 651-639-0469 doehrmann.com
DESIGN TEAM: Chris Doehrmann, AIA
PROJECT TYPE: Remodel
AIA FRAMEWORK FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE: Design for Discovery
Design for Economy
Design for Ecosystems
Design for Energy
Design for Integration
Design for Resources
HOME SPONSOR:
• Builder: Minnesota Fine Homes
• Windows: Pella
709 Peninsula Point Road
Shakopee, MN 55379
See parking details below.
ARCHITECT:
Unfold Architecture
612-460-0942
unfoldarchitecture.com
DESIGN TEAM:
Mike Gray, AIA; Greg Vose, AIA; Jack Peterson, AIA
PROJECT TYPE: New Construction
AIA FRAMEWORK
FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE:
Design for Energy
HOME SPONSORS:
• Builder: Sustainable 9
• Cabinets, Windows & Furniture Supplier: DWELL44
THE OVERLOOK AT O’DOWD SHAKOPEE
Set on a previously undeveloped lot at the edge of a peninsula on Lake O’Dowd, this modern retreat was shaped equally by the natural contours of the site and the lifestyle of a growing family. The home balances wooded privacy with expansive lake views, embracing both its quiet surroundings and its active inhabitants.
Rather than altering the land, the home was designed to rest lightly upon it. A bridge entry spans a sunken courtyard, minimizing excavation and elevating the main level to preserve views. The orientation and footprint provide privacy while maximizing connection to the lake.
A screened porch with a double-sided, wood-burning fireplace anchors the main living area and extends use well beyond summer thanks to operable screens and built-in heaters.
The exterior blends fiber cement and thermally modified wood for durability and warmth, while interiors pair red oak, terrazzo, and teal accents with playful, personal moments—like a hidden soundproof reading room tucked behind a red oak wall.
The home is net-zero-energy ready and earned EPA Indoor airPLUS certification. A hybrid geothermal and air-source heat pump system drives efficiency, supported by an advanced building envelope and fresh air ventilation.
Outdoors, a native prairie restoration replaces turf grass, reducing water usage and chemical inputs. At every level, the home reflects a desire to tread lightly, offering a place that’s bold in design, grounded in nature, and responsible in its performance.
Parking is on one side of Peninsula Point Road. Follow all signage. Please do not drive or park in home’s driveway. Golf carts will be available for those who need assistance traveling between Homes #5 and #6.
THE ISLE AT O’DOWD
SHAKOPEE
Tucked onto a wooded private island on Lake O’Dowd, this modern retreat was designed as both a quiet escape for two and a gathering place for a growing extended family. Surrounded by water on all sides, the site came with a long list of constraints—from shoreline setbacks and septic clearances to elevation requirements and limited buildable area. But those challenges ultimately shaped the design, helping to define where and how the home would come to live on the land.
The result is a three-level home that balances openness with intimacy. The main level includes a primary suite, a den, a kitchen, and living spaces that connect to a screened porch and roof deck. Upstairs is a guest suite that sleeps four and a small gym tucked into a third-floor “lookout” with sweeping lake
views. Downstairs is all about play and gathering: A golf simulator, game room, kitchenette, and bunk room flow out to a rear patio and hot tub.
A central light-filled stairwell ties all three levels together and brings daylight deep into the lower floor. The home’s two garages—originally requested to house a six-car collection—were split into separate upper and lower volumes to help break down the massing and keep the architecture feeling grounded.
With vertical wood-look siding, dark paneling, and board-formed concrete, the exterior material palette reflects the tones and textures of the surrounding landscape. The home feels modern but rooted—an intentional retreat that embraces the island setting while welcoming family for generations to come.
ARCHITECT: Unfold Architecture 612-460-0942
unfoldarchitecture.com
DESIGN TEAM: Mike Gray, AIA; Greg Vose, AIA; Jack Peterson, AIA
PROJECT TYPE: New Construction
AIA FRAMEWORK FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE: Design for Integration
HOME SPONSORS:
• Builder: Sustainable 9
• Cabinets & Windows Supplier: DWELL44
• Landscaping: River Heights Outdoor Solutions
Project Credits: Tommy Everson Architect Gordon James Construction & Development
GEODESIC DOME RENOVATION
MINNETONKA
Inspired by a Minnesota State Fair exhibit, the architect’s parents built this home during the energy crisis in the 1980s. This remodel gives new life to a unique childhood home in need of a transformation.
While the exterior envelope largely remains the same, the renovation includes a new primary suite, kitchen, and den, and new finishes and cabinetry throughout the home. The new bedroom offers direct views of the surrounding forest, while the new bath features a large skylight next to a freestanding bathtub to give a tree canopy experience with access to the stars at night.
Previously cut off from the rest of the home, the new kitchen provides lines of
sight and sound to the living and dining areas. Dark-stained select alder cabinets and trimwork provide a modern cabin atmosphere.
At the top of the dome sits a light-filled office for work and study. The cupola connects inhabitants to the surrounding trees and acts as a sundial throughout the day. Light spills in from above and below, allowing for an airy and distraction-free place to focus.
While the upper levels are open under the geodesic dome roof, the walk-out basement found space for a new private den with large sliding glass doors accessing the woods and gardens to the back of the property.
Parking is on the south side of Lake Street Extension, as well as along Highland Road and Skyview Road. Follow all signage.
AIA FRAMEWORK FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE: Design for Integration
HOME SPONSOR: • Windows: Andersen Windows & Doors
5341 Dominick Drive
Minnetonka, MN 55343
See parking details below.
ARCHITECT:
Chisel Architecture
952-426-8663
chiselarch.com
DESIGN TEAM:
Marcy L. Townsend, AIA; Sara S. Whicher, Assoc. AIA; Brittny Iverson; Kendrick Booth
PROJECT TYPE: New Construction
AIA FRAMEWORK
FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE:
Design for Well-Being
HOME SPONSORS:
• Builder: Align Building & Remodeling
• Windows: Marvin
CHERRY MASH MODERN
MINNETONKA
This residence represents a thoughtful reinvention of lakeside living through innovative design solutions. The architecture seamlessly blends indoor and outdoor spaces with a grand fireplace connecting the great room to a meticulously crafted screened porch. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame dramatic lake views while maintaining privacy through careful orientation and preserved mature trees. The screened porch features innovative storm panel technology, extending its seasonal usability—a practical solution for maximizing livable space in Minnesota’s climate.
This “forever home” is designed for aging in place while accommodating the owners’ active lifestyle and love of entertaining. The design responds to the owners’ minimalist philosophy while embracing hygge—the Scandinavian concept of coziness. The home serves multiple roles: primary residence,
lake retreat, and entertainment hub for gatherings ranging from intimate holiday dinners to game-day parties with 30 guests.
Rather than expanding unnecessarily, the design team leveraged the lower level to gain space economically. Special attention to acoustic design addresses the clients’ sensitivity to noise while creating optimal social spaces.
Sustainability guided numerous decisions, from preserving mature trees to minimizing site disturbance through a compact footprint. The design incorporates infrastructure for future renewable energy systems and comprehensive air filtration for the allergy-sensitive client. Materials were selected for durability and low maintenance, ensuring longevity while reducing life-cycle resource use.
Parking is on the east side of Dominick Drive only. Follow all signage.
BUSH LAKE REIMAGINED
When a couple’s home overlooking Bush Lake was destroyed in a raging fire, it provided an unexpected but ultimately rewarding opportunity to reimagine their family’s home for a new chapter in their life. The whole-house restoration was a redesign on the existing circa-2000s foundation, resulting in a fresh, modern, and distinctive home.
Project challenges included opening up the dated interiors to create better flow and more natural light, maximizing the usable space, and making the most of the stunning views of the lake. The design team responded to the clients’ goals and resolved the challenges with a crisp, modern gabled home that fits neatly on the site while creating a stronger connection to place and engaging with its neighbors.
The project team utilized innovative modern floor joists and trusses that simplified the roof lines to give the house a clean, modern silhouette, while reverse board-and-batten detailing on the gable ends lends additional visual interest. They also eliminated unnecessary interior columns and elements, resolved inconsistencies, and created a soaring vaulted integrated living room, kitchen, and dining area overlooking the lake on the main level.
High-performance modern windows and doors fill the home with natural light and views of the lake while keeping it comfortable all year round. The team also created a new space above the front entry to accommodate a luxurious bedroom and en-suite bathroom for grandchildren and other important guests.
ARCHITECT: Kurt Baum Architects 952-426-1932
kurtbaumarchitects.com
DESIGN TEAM: Kurt Baum, AIA; Tom Lindemeier
PROJECT TYPE: Remodel
AIA FRAMEWORK FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE: Design for Discovery Design for Integration Design for Well-Being
HOME SPONSOR:
• Architectural Lighting: Lelch
• Builder: Trestle Homes
• Interior Design: InUnison Design
• Plasterwork: Otto Painting Design
• Stonework: ORIJIN STONE
• Windows: Marvin
Keep Touring Online
Dive deeper into the architectdesigned difference from the comfort of home. Log on to the 2025 Homes by Architects Tour exclusive virtual tour experience September 27–October 12 at homesbyarchitects.org. Use password HOUSEPARTY to explore Home #1 online only and to revisit Homes #7 and #10.
Homes #1, #7, and #10 are the stars of the virtual tour. 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.
Get the inside scoop by watching an interview with Home #7’s architect Kevin Barden, AIA.
Above: Home #1, a new Wisconsin cabin designed by Christopher Strom Architects. Read more on page 11.
Left: Home #7, a Minnetonka remodel with a family connection by Rivers Barden Architects. Read more on page 19.
Below: Home #10, a thoughtful new Golden Valley home designed by Keep. Read more on page 26.
LEONID FURMANSKY
DESIGN HONORS
Katie Loecken, AIA
Mitlyng Design mitlyngdesign.com
1
2 A Spanish Craftsman Reinvented, Minneapolis, MN
The American Institute of Architects Minnesota’s Residential Emerging Architect Award recognizes local residential architects who demonstrate the emergence of a strong architectural voice. Congratulations to Katie Loecken, AIA, recipient of a 2025 Residential Emerging Architect Award
Loecken specializes in “modernizing existing homes without losing the character that homeowners love,” architect Ashley Mitlyng, AIA, wrote in a letter recommending Loecken for the award. Her focus on transformational, sustainable renovations reduces waste, supports reductions in carbon emissions, and counteracts sprawl. Her sensitive renovations to existing homes also help preserve the character of streets, neighborhoods, and cities.
“This architect’s consistently thoughtful approach to reuse and reconceiving floor plans in very practical ways isn’t just preservation-minded and sustainable— it’s life-changing for the homeowners,” said the award jury.
Rambler Revised, Minneapolis, MN
518 Ardmore Drive
Golden Valley, MN 55422
Tour this home again online at homesbyarchitects.org with password HOUSEPARTY
This project is an efficient, thoughtful new build in the North Tyrol neighborhood of Golden Valley. The facade’s palette is informed by the clients’ love of backyard bonfires. The look approximates a charred log perched on a rugged fire pit. A cedar rain screen and black board-and-batten siding complement the concrete wing-walls tying the exterior into the interior.
The home is strategically tucked into the sloped grade as an abridged split level with rear exit accessed from the back stair landing. Uneven scissor trusses provide both a symmetric and iconic roof form while still timing out with the interior wall division.
The lower level features a generous tuckunder two-car garage, den, powder room, and entry vestibule. The accent paint in the powder room wraps the small space with a warm interiority. The den ceiling is
finished with an oiled maple plywood with egress windows to easily repurpose the den as a guest bedroom.
Upstairs, the living, kitchen, and dining rooms flow in sequence. Sloped ceilings add height and drama along the builtin bench and plaster fireplace by local artisans. Two bedrooms and two bathrooms are accessed from the main entertaining area through doorways flanking the kitchen cabinetry bank.
The primary bedroom suite includes laundry within the closet. The en-suite bathroom features a full shower/wash area and tub approximating a Japanese bath layout. Custom trim work was completed in oak at the pocket doors, slat wall, and stairs. The bump-in on the north end inverts the bump-out to the south, providing a reading nook and articulating otherwise streamlined plans.
GOLDEN VALLEY
4221 Ewing Avenue S.
Minneapolis, MN 55410
ARCHITECT:
Alchemy
651-647-6650
alchemyarch.com
DESIGN TEAM:
Geoffrey Warner, FAIA; Eric Winter, AIA
PROJECT TYPE:
Remodel & New Construction
AIA FRAMEWORK
FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE:
Design for Discovery
LINDEN HILLS WEEHOUSE
MINNEAPOLIS
The 2007 “Not So weeHouse,” designed by Alchemy as a prefab spec house for a local realtor, was delivered as four modular boxes and completed in only three months. When the homeowners relocated in 2019, it was bought by Alchemy’s principal architect Geoffrey Warner, FAIA, who has been personalizing the house, making it a joyful and sustainable laboratory for city living.
The house is a celebration of natural and salvaged materials from the house and quirky artifacts from Alchemy’s other work. The loft-like finishes used are both economical and durable and, when paired with hand-crafted lighting and furnishings, lend vibrancy to an otherwise blank white slate.
To improve durability, comfort, and energy efficiency, the original exterior envelope insulation was doubled to R-35,
with a new weather barrier and four inches of mineral wool. The siding is a rain screen of custom weathering steel and natural pine tar-finished salvaged cedar from the original house. A fivekilowatt solar array on the roof covers all of the house’s annual electrical needs, including a heat-pump water heater and electric floor heat in the bath.
The modernist xeriscape landscape is an inward-focused sequence of spaces that are both natural and man-made, lush and low maintenance, requiring little watering and no mowing. The same materials used for the house are brought to the hardscape, fences, and the storageshed/outdoor kitchen box. Combined with reuse strategies, real materials are left raw or feature natural finishes, leading to a low carbon and low(er) cost approach to urban revitalization.
HOME SPONSOR:
• Landscaping: Phillips Garden
• Windows & Doors: Andersen
Windows & Doors
PHOTOS BY ALCHEMY
Matthew Erickson, AIA
TEA2 Architects tea2architects.com
The American Institute of Architects Minnesota’s Residential Emerging Architect Award recognizes local residential architects who demonstrate the emergence of a strong architectural voice. Congratulations to Matthew Erickson, AIA, recipient of a 2025 Residential Emerging Architect Award
“[Erickson] does not advocate a particular style but creates a particular aesthetic based on the goals of the client,” wrote a TEA2 principal. “This insight and approach drive his designs, integrating all functional aspects into a cohesive whole that is completely tailored to the clients’ values.”
His projects range not only in aesthetic but also in size and complexity, from modest in scale and budget to some of the firm’s most demanding projects. The awards jury was also impressed with Erickson’s efforts to help develop younger staff and ensure organizational consistency across projects.
Small Projects Showcase
Creative design for small spaces. This is the second year of the Small Projects Showcase, a special addition to the Homes by Architects Tour.
The showcased projects—Homes #12 and #13—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 #12 and #13.
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!
HOME SPONSORS:
• Builder: Showcase Renovations
• Windows & Doors: Pella
OAK IN OAKS
ARDEN HILLS
PROJECT TYPE: Sunroom Addition • 230 sf
After house hunting for a near-retirement move, the homeowners realized they cherished their long-time location and backyard shade garden under formidable oaks. Their house already offered compact one-level living, and just needed a comfortable space to enjoy the garden year round.
Design goals included preserving the office’s view, keeping the outdoor kitchen in place, and allowing morning light to enter through new high windows. A prow-shaped form emerged, wrapped in built-in seating for reading and shelves inspired by the homeowner’s pottery collection.
Material choices echo the site’s oaks. The interior is lined with clear rift sawn white oak; the existing red-oak flooring was refinished to blend. Outside, cedar shakes weather naturally like bark, while copper shrouds and details will patinate, tying the addition to the owners’ established lives here.
NORTH STAR
SAINT PAUL
PROJECT TYPE: Kitchen Remodel • 445 sf
This midcentury modern home, built in 1954, originally had a kitchen cut off from the rest of the house. The renovation reimagines that space with clarity and openness. A large central island invites connection while the surrounding layout supports flow.
New expansive windows bring in natural light and strengthen the connection between kitchen and landscape, framing views and visually extending the living space into the outdoors. Custom birch cabinetry echoes the home’s original millwork, and a handmade tile backsplash crafted by the homeowner adds a personal, tactile connection.
A new stair screen wall adorned with playful star cutouts nods to the home’s name and adds sculptural interest and safety. Designed to support main-level living and aging in place, North Star is both transformation and tribute—balancing warmth, function, and timeless simplicity.
ARCHITECT: Kell Architects 612-812-5687 kellarchitects.com
DESIGN TEAM: Meghan Kell, AIA; Kelly Kraemer, Assoc. AIA
HOME SPONSORS: • Builder: MDS Remodeling
One of the simplest ways to make your personal mark on your custom home project is the use of unique colors, patterns, and finishes in key spaces.
A great wallpaper or bold color choice can set the tone for a space and bring design choices to life.
While many color and design trends in wall finishes come and go, there are some colors and patterns that can stand out and stand the test of time. For those with maximalist leanings, a wallpaper mural can create a dramatic, timeless statement. Other wallpapers with classic patterns can bridge trend and modern living, and unique or custom wallpapers can be a bold statement about a homeowner’s lifestyle and values.
Paint colors can also bring out natural light, woodwork, textiles, and other finishes, which highlights the way that design features work together. Natural tones soften and warm spaces and help connect indoor and outdoor environments, while bold colors draw the eye and can highlight key features important to the homeowner.
An architect or designer can help you harmonize your vision for color and pattern palettes with design elements in your home. Watch for your favorite uses of wallpaper and paint colors on the Homes by Architects Tour.
A Splash of Personality: Wallpaper and Color Visions in Home Design
Right: Home #3 from the 2023 tour, designed by Joy Architecture. Photo by Farm Kid Studios.
When a couple found a beautiful, two-and-a-half-acre wooded lot in the Sunfish Lake community, they commissioned PKA Architecture to design a new family home. Design goals included a timeless modern home with defined public and private spaces including a common area with an integrated kitchen, living, and dining area; five bedrooms; an office that could do double-duty as a nursery; a lowerlevel rec room with a gym; and a bar for entertaining. The owners also wanted a vegetable gardens, a pickleball court, and a sport court.
The design team responded to the clients’ goals and resolved the sloping site with a 4,315-square-foot modern home nestled quietly into the land, offering tree-house views of the bucolic landscape. The architectural design utilizes a luxurious
palette of natural materials and textures, including wood, stone, metal, and glass, accented by earthy tones to create a serene backdrop for the family’s active life. Design highlights include the soaring, light-filled kitchen that flows into the dining area with a custom wine wall and the living room, the luxurious primary bathroom, and the custom bar in the lower-level rec room.
Inspired by the clients’ desire for sustainability, the architecture team incorporated energy-efficient operable windows for access to natural light and fresh air, an energy-efficient HVAC system with hydronic in-floor heat, energy-efficient appliances, LED lighting, and locally sourced natural materials. The property was intentionally landscaped to preserve the mature trees, prevent runoff, and provide natural filtration.
JASPER LAZOR
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.
Experience Pella products on this year’s tour: Home #4 | Chris Doehrmann Architect, Inc. Home #12 | SALA Architects
Streeter Custom Builder
4312 Cottage Park Road
White Bear Lake, MN 55110
See parking details below.
ARCHITECT:
Rehkamp Larson Architects
612-285-7275
rehkamplarson.com
DESIGN TEAM:
Jean Rehkamp Larson, AIA; Anders Matney, AIA
PROJECT TYPE: New Construction
AIA FRAMEWORK
FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE:
Design for Water
HOME SPONSORS:
• Builder: Hagstrom Builder
• Windows: Andersen Windows & Doors
WHITE BEAR LAKE COTTAGE
WHITE BEAR LAKE
Starting a new life together, this couple created a house that fits their gregarious and passionate natures. One step in the door and their personalities are expressed with a custom laser-cut poem screen to the right and a wall of art niches ahead to the left.
They prioritized ease of hosting friends and family parties as they blend their lives together. The house allows for graceful movement from inside to out. Guests can pass straight through the entry hall to the porch and lake beyond or turn to arrive in the heart of the home. The living, dining, and kitchen flow together and open fully to the porch through a 15-foot automated sliding door. Reflecting the owner’s background as a restaurateur, the kitchen includes a catering pantry complete with rolling racks and an “expo” counter with a heat lamp. Beyond the kitchen sink, a generous window opens as a passthrough to the exterior pull-up bar, making serving guests a snap.
The classic exterior contains dynamic three-dimensional interior spaces. An open steel stair leads to a second-level study loft overlooking the dining room. A high shed dormer fills the space with western light and French doors on the east lead to an upper deck overlooking the lake. From the study, one bridge walkway leads to a guest suite and a second leads to the exercise room. Between them, the two-story wall with art niches extends up from the entry.
This traditional cottage in an historic neighborhood is tuned to the personalities of the homeowners and embraces living on a Minnesota lake.
Parking is on one side of street only. Follow all signage.
PHOTOS BY JASPER LAZOR
PETITE COTTAGE
When the owners of this 1920s house decided to take on an extensive remodel, they knew they needed help from a professional well versed in updating historic properties. The reimagined spaces had to suit their modern lives while maintaining and furthering the original aesthetic. It was also very important that exterior alterations would retain the cottage appeal that has always ingratiated this house with its prewar neighborhood.
While the renovation’s layout and functionality differ significantly from a century ago, the original style language is unmistakable. Common spaces are layered and visually connected, creating an open feel while maintaining the scale of rooms called for by the original architecture. This is balanced with carved-out spaces for retreat, learning,
creativity, and connection. From a sunlit study upstairs to a plant-filled bonus room perfect for reading and reflection, each space serves a specific purpose. Increased daylight was a guiding principle in the design, with natural light flowing into every space from multiple directions, creating an uplifting atmosphere. Historically inspired, sometimes whimsical wall coverings feature fresh, updated color palettes. The house feels crisp and lively without straying from its historic roots.
This comprehensive update is an example of how good design can ensure the viability of old buildings for many years to come. While modern mechanical systems and amenities are now integrated throughout, careful adherence to design precedent gives the impression that no intervention took place.
ARCHITECT: David Heide Design Studio 612-337-5060 dhdstudio.com
DESIGN TEAM:
Chris Christofferson, AIA; David Heide, Assoc. AIA; Jake Hasse; Elizabeth Mueller; Michael Crull
PROJECT TYPE: Remodel & Addition
AIA FRAMEWORK FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE:
Design for Integration
Design for Well-Being
HOME SPONSORS:
• Builder: CNC Remodeling
• Landscaping: Tangletown Gardens
• Windows: Marvin
PHOTOS BY RICH MICHELL
7285 Lone Oak Trail N. Grant, MN 55082
PENNY LANE GRANT
ARCHITECT: PLAAD
612-225-4700
plaadoffice.com
DESIGN TEAM:
Mark Stankey, AIA; Michael Meer, AIA
PROJECT TYPE: New Construction
AIA FRAMEWORK FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE:
Design for Integration
HOME SPONSORS:
• Builder: Redstone Builders
• Developer: White Oaks Savanna
• Stonework: ORIJIN STONE
• Windows & Doors: Andersen
Windows & Doors
This multigenerational home sits on a six-acre lot of restored native prairie. Early on, the homeowners expressed their love of the prairie views, particularly in what they believed to be a shared tranquility between the prairie and the ocean. This project was about more than just building a house—it was about designing a home that would exist in quiet dialogue with its landscape.
A carefully composed one-story linear form was developed strategically to capture light and views while defining distinct zones. The internal division of public and private spaces follows the longitudinal axis of the project, with the private spaces welcoming the morning sun and the public spaces gathering the evening sun.
Deep overhangs on the southwest exposure define a covered three-season porch and protect from direct solar gain and glare in summer afternoons, while expansive glazing on the southeast and northwest faces encourages direct visual connection to the surrounding prairie. Daylight is brought deep into the kitchen through a large linear skylight.
A separate pool house/home office allows for remote work apart from the primary living spaces. Built-in stone planters denote the entry and integrate the residence more intimately into the surrounding landscape.
The exterior facade is composed of incredibly durable and long-lasting weathering steel panels. When fully weathered, the steel will complement the warm rich hues of the prairie grasses and fall foliage.
Please note that Apple Maps may take you only to the White Oaks Savanna entrance. Enter the development and follow signage to the home.
A Tono Pizzeria stand with pizza slices to purchase and portable restrooms will be available at Home #17 courtesy of White Oaks Savanna. Note: Pizzas will not be made on-site. Instead, they will be delivered with $5 slices available at various times each hour.
WHITEFISH LAKE HOUSE
Crosslake, MN
Scan the QR code for an in-depth look inside this award-winning home.
