These are the winners of the AIA Star Tribune Home of the Month for 2023-2024.
ARDEN HILLS REGENERATIONDesign team: Katie Loecken, Ashley Mitlyng, Mary Begley, Mitlyng Design.
The remodel of this 1969 north suburban house involved reimagining the function and creating larger spaces. The stairwell and the original brick fireplace were preserved, while a nursery was transformed into a sunroom. Redundant spaces, like the formal living and dining rooms, were replaced with a main-level primary suite. The design aimed to accommodate both infants and aging in place, as the young family intended to make this their forever home.
The design team at BLUEBIRD consists of Ben Awes, Perri Kinsman, Sophie Olund, Sam Awes, and CityDeskStudio.
The family allows the natural light to come into their home, displaying its vast plant collection. They refreshed the exterior of the modest single-story ranch-style house while keeping its original footprint similar to that of their teenagers’ three-story house in St. Louis Park. However, they had to undergo a whole-house remodeling due to a fire in the attic, which resulted in the introduction of unique materials and bold designs. The windows were updated with transom bands and the rooflines were made soaring, maintaining a modest vibe.
LAKE HARRIET RESIDENCEDesign team: Brent Nelson, Ted Martin, Gabriel Keller, Sarah St. Louis, PKA Architecture.
The couple, empty-nesters, decided to trade in their suburban digs to build a smaller house within walking distance of Harriet Lake. She preferred traditional styles, while he liked modern ones, but the design team was able to create a home that beautifully combined both the variegated brick and the flat-roof and gable forms of the garden sedum rooftop. However, there was one problem.
LONGHOUSE Design team: David Wagner, Roderick Vahr, SALA Architects.
The house boasts solar passive orientation and shade for overhangs on the roof. The columns and beams supporting the exterior were intentionally placed to provide uninterrupted rows of windows. The sloped roofs direct one’s gaze towards the lake and horizon. The house is not only designed to capture views but also to preserve the natural surroundings, with a twist in the floor plan that allows for the preservation of two large oak trees. When locating this multigenerational retreat in western Wisconsin, the architects sited the home on the edge of a small lake, overlooking 140 acres of rolling woodlands and prairie.
LUTSEN CABIN Design team: Todd Rhoades, Terri Cermak, and Cermak Rhoades Architects.
This tiny cabin sits on a 48-acre site in the forest, allowing for the main level of the 780-square-foot cabin to be tucked into the lower level of the hill, anchored into the hillside while being surrounded by a canopy of maple trees. It is necessary for the custom-engineered wood frame to fit within the narrow slivers of space between the dividing walls. All of this allows for the enjoyment of solitude in the forest.
OPEN THE LIDDesign team: Christopher Strom, Eric Johnson, Christopher Strom Architects.
The addition and remodeling of their modest one-story bungalow in the budget-conscious Minneapolis neighborhood of Howe allowed the family to stay in their home while adding an inviting common space and bedrooms on the second level. They were able to do this thanks to the cost-effective design-savvy details, such as adding pops of blue cladding to the exterior.
PRAIRIE PROSPECTDesign team: Jeremy Imhoff, Sara Imhoff, Jordan Magistad, and Imprint Architecture and Design.
In the summer, the windows and doors provide passive cooling, while in the winter, they offer heating. These windows and doors are abundant and have large overhangs. The roof is made from recycled metal, and the siding is made from natural cedar wood with tight knots. The long, low floor plan of the home sits low and maximizes views and daylight from every room, incorporating varying roof heights. The couple, who are newlyweds, set out to build a house near Grant in Stillwater that can accommodate their growing brood as well as provide spaces for visiting family from out of the country.
ST. ANTHONY MIDCENTURY REVIVALDesign team: Christine Albertsson, Mark Tambornino, Katie Loecken, Sarah Hughes, and Albertsson Hansen Architecture.
The basement of Paul’s St. Gained distinction by being converted into an Accessory Dwelling Unit, with the issuance of an ADU permit. Additionally, the home underwent game-changing renovations, such as updating the kitchen and adding a pantry and mudroom. The main entrance was also relocated, while maintaining the open floor plan and signature midcentury sloped roof with high wood ceilings and clerestory windows of the house on Paul St.
The modernized steamship was designed by Mark Nelson, David Heide, and the David Heide Design Studio.
This condominium in Minneapolis underwent a major remodeling project, bringing back the nostalgic charm of the Golden Age of travel. The living spaces were improved with ample storage and more natural light, while antique fixtures and marble, quartzite, and mahogany with inlaid nickel-silver were used to create a stylish blend of Art Deco and Streamline Moderne fashion.
SUNFISH LAKE CONTEMPORARYDesign team: Mark Stankey, Matt Byers, Peter Kluzak, Nicole Norris, PLAAD.
Because the homeowners wanted a home that respected the natural environment and size, they built the house on a heavily wooded lot with a restored prairie on Lake Sunfish. The result is a home that blurs the lines between indoors and outdoors, with a one-level walkout that provides access to solar study and a large entertaining space for gatherings. Additionally, the home includes two main-level suites for aging parents and owners, meeting all their needs.
SUNFLOWERDesign team: Christopher Strom, Eric Johnson, Isaiah Scharen, and Christopher Strom Architects.
Situated deep in St. Paul, this Accessory Dwelling Unit was primarily designed as a residence for the homeowner’s family and friends, offering a creative use of a free-standing, two-story structure. Affectionately nicknamed “Sunflower” for its cheerful, yellow exterior, this 715 square-foot unit provides a space for urban farming.
Design team: Eric Odor, Nate Ehrlich, and SALA Architects worked on the TORCHED AND PORCHED project.
The ½-story 1 home is a modestly large living space. The interior is kept clean with durable materials, while the natural cedar porches and black standing-seam metal roof serve as a backdrop. An inefficient and dated home in northeast Minneapolis was replaced with a modern, energy-efficient one that meets the needs of a family of five, while still retaining a small footprint.