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Standouts by Design
Fresh, clean, intimate, whimsical, and timeless are just a few adjectives overhead at the judging for the 2007 Residential Architects Vision and Excellence awards, where judges could easily see that Minnesota architects were continuing to push the design envelope by assuring that new residences, remodels, and additions fit seamlessly into their surroundings. Whether admiring an Alabama home that took every possible advantage of its natural surroundings, a lakeside shelter that blends in with the shoreline, or additions and remodels that make homes look fresh, not brand new—fitting in was the way to make a home’s design stand out.
This year, seven winners were chosen in the categories of remodels, new residences, and delightful details, to be honored August 15 at the Museum of Russian Art in Minneapolis. The jury included Todd Rhoades, AIA, Cermak Rhoades Architects; Julie Snow, FAIA, Julie Snow Architects; public artist Andrew Leicester; and Mpls.St.Paul Magazine senior editor Jayne Haugen Olson. Mountainbrook Home
Seamless Neighbor
Cottage Addition (Into the Light)
St. Paul Residence
Loon’s Nest
The Biggest Little Bath
Do-It-Yourself S.H.E.D. (Simple Honest Easy Details)
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Tucked against the wall of a steep-sided ravine in the heart of the Alabama hills, the expansive home designed by Dan Nepp, with its natural stone exterior and green trim, is careful to fit seamlessly into the breathtaking surroundings. The sprawling residence comprises a main “living” pavilion, a bedroom pavilion, and a garage pavilion, all of which combine with the ravine wall to the south to create a cozy, exterior courtyard space. Todd Rhoades complimented the natural look of the stonework, while Julie Snow appreciated the use of outdoor space. “They created major outdoor space looking inward toward the hill,” Snow says of the courtyard. “It’s counterintuitive, but it’s nice because it’s intimate.” Project manager: Steve Norgaard, AIA. Team members: Tyler Hillger and John Enloe. Builder: Philip Woods Home Builder. Structural engineer: Mattson Macdonald Young
Leicester referred to this Edina teardown as a “nice contemporary addition to a traditional neighborhood.” Which is what the residents and architect Dan Nepp had in mind as they tried to find balance between creating a new, spacious home and respecting the aesthetic of its Edina neighborhood. To give a feeling of roominess without the girth, numerous large windows, as well as porches at the front and back of the house, create a connection between interior and exterior, blurring the lines between where the home ends and the yard begins. The result is a new residence that gives the feeling of a much larger space, while fitting respectfully into the established neighborhood. Project designer: Charlie Witzke. Builder: John Thomas, John Thomas Custom Homes. Structural engineer: Mattson Macdonald Young
In an era of teardowns, the owner of this 1920s St. Paul residence wished to bring new function to her home of twenty-five years, without ruining the aesthetic connection to the neighborhood. The result was a 200-square-foot addition that added an updated kitchen with windows that took optimal advantage of the southeast light while providing new views of the garden and yard. A mudroom was also added along with a three-quarter bath, and the old kitchen was remodeled into a bedroom, assuring that the owner could function on one level of the home. “The design shows that it’s thinking about the consumer,” says Andrew Leicester. “It’s an average St. Paul home that emphasizes the kitchen and the light.” Project team: Bryan Anderson, AIA, Sala Architects. Builder: Home Tailors
“This just felt fresh,” says Jayne Haugen Olson of the St. Paul remodel. “The materials are great, and it’s not overly embellished.” Which was the goal of the resident, an architect, when he hired fellow architect Christine Albertsson to redo and expand his kitchen, rebuild a sunroom that had fallen into disrepair, and add a spare bedroom for his son to use when visiting. The result? A light, airy addition that remains true to the aesthetic of the original 1920s house, an updated sunroom, and a spare bedroom that fits neatly under the eaves of a pitched roof, appearing as though it’s part of the original structure. “The architect really helped keep it clean and pull the remodel and original together,” says Haugen Olson.
With a roof that slopes to match the hillside, minimal framing, and concrete imprinted with the “texture of rough pine boards,” this lakeside shelter fits seamlessly into the panoramic lake view of Island Lake in Emily, Minnesota. While serving as a shore-side retreat for owners of a cabin that sits several hundred feet off the shore, Loon’s Nest manages to complement its surroundings nicely. “The architect seemed to care about how the building was made,” says Snow.
The challenge presented to architect John Dwyer: Replace two small, “claustrophobic” bathrooms with one larger bathroom that could still function as two bathrooms when necessary—all within an eight-by-ten-foot space. A sliding dividing door; compact, efficient storage space; multiple mirrors; and door handles that double as towel racks are just a few highlights of this remodel. To add an extra feeling of space, light blue tiles and white and chrome fixtures contrast with a dark slate floor. “It’s comfortable, but not overwhelming,” Snow says.
This large shed/workspace, with its earth-colored walls, natural wood trim, and metal roof, looks as if it belongs in the pages of a magazine—so it is no surprise that the shed was designed specifically as a project for a magazine, The Family Handyman, that caters to do-it-yourself homeowners. The architects wanted to prove that structures with “clean lines, honest use of materials, and beautiful details” belonged in every American neighborhood, so all materials for the project can be bought off the shelf and construction instructions are simple and easily carried out by DIYers—making this shed an instant favorite of the jury panel.
Each year after the judges have reviewed the submissions for the RAVE competition, our editors have the opportunity to study all of the projects and identify emerging trends or homes that we think offer some special attributes. As in the past, there is exciting work being done when creating second homes and retreats. Very often, this is where a client can ask an architect to create something more distinctive and design a home that is completely different from the client’s primary residence. Since these homes usually come with large pieces of land, the architect can design a structure to interplay with the surrounding landscape—not compete aesthetically with nearby homes or neighborhoods—such as Destination Home, Eric Odor, AIA, and Bryan Anderson, AIA, Sala Architects. 
Another thing that caught our eye—roofs. A few years ago, seeing a silver, steel roof was something new. Even though these silver roofs continue to be of interest, and are still being used, what is fresh were the number of red roofs. A red roof doesn’t offer the same flexibility in color palette for the rest of the home, but it is a strong visual statement that—on the right project—is the cherry on the sundae, including Cannon Falls Residence, Todd Hansen, AIA, Albertsson Hansen. 
We also applaud interesting approaches to windows—a critical element of good design and architecture. From a utility standpoint, windows provide access to sunlight and air circulation. A well-positioned window also captures a view of the surrounding landscape. This year we saw large garage door–style, roll-up windows that open a space to the outdoors, as well as large, pivoting, swing windows that, when opened, transform a room to a screen porch. Even a small window adds access to light without focusing on a focal point outdoors, such as the accent window in The Art Ranch, Leffert Tigelaar, AIA, Choice Wood Company. The glass becomes another element in this kitchen that makes use of a mix of modern materials, which add texture and dimension to the space. 
The judges were not all in agreement about the use of materials when creating an addition to an existing home. One school of thought is to create a seamless addition that looks as if it’s a part of the original construction of the home. Another interpretation is to design an addition that has its own personality—something new. This home in the Uptown area was designed to look like a series of smaller buildings. The variety of materials and architectural detailing adds to an end result that feels like an evolution over time periods. The Village, Meriwether Felt, TreHus. Project partner, Gina Kelman. 
© 2011 MSP Communications, Inc. All rights reserved