LOCATION
Sunfish Lake, Minnesota
YEAR
2021
BUILDER
Streeter Custom Builder
INTERIORS
Anne McDonald Design
PHOTOGRAPHY
Vondelinde and Haris Kenjar Photography
RECOGNITION
MSP Home & Design
RAVE 1st Place Winner - 2023
Midwest Home Design Awards
Best Traditional Architecture 4,000+ s.f.
Second Place Winner - 2023
Home Builder Digest
19 Best Residential Architects in MN - 2021
TRADITIONAL NORDIC RESIDENCE
In the fall of 2019, we were approached by Streeter Custom Builder to help realize a dream for a family relocating to Sunfish Lake. While the lot is quite narrow, it affords wonderful potential views of the lake and is home to a number of old growth white pines. Charged with maximizing the views while preserving the mature pines, we developed a thoughtfully composed home in the traditional Norwegian vernacular. Positioning the home on the site to take advantage of a walk-out basement potential with the natural fall of the land towards the lake, coupled with the strict local height requirements required a room-in-attic approach to the second level spaces. On the upper level, the ceiling starts at shoulder height in certain locations and slopes upwards. This compression of space on the upper level contributes to an intimacy with the architecture and a nostalgic association with traditional notions of “home.”
“Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”
The composition of the home offers a study in the interplay of public and private spaces and the challenge of providing an unimpeded lake view from every room of the house. Furthermore, strict shoreland overlay zoning limited both the height, and, because of the ordinary high water mark level, the depth of the home, encouraging a longer, linear home. The entrance to the home is denoted by a covered entry roof cantilevering out over twenty feet, reinforcing the horizontality of the residence and creating a sense of excitement and levity. The main entry is resolved with one oversized steel pivot door, inlaid with a custom CNC fabricated undulating topography referencing water ripples. Immediately upon entry, one can view through the residence directly to the lake beyond.
Custom steel elements are designed throughout the home - the stair stringers, handrail and glass partitions and doors.
Custom steel elements are designed throughout the home - the stair stringers, handrail and glass partitions and doors.
As an avid tequila connoisseur, a tasting room was a must-have in the residence. Located at the base of the stair the tasting room continues the combination of stone and steel with custom steel wine racks, inset boxes that showcase bottles and steel + glass sliding doors.
A four seasons room adjacent to the main living space opens to the lake and includes a wood fire pizza oven with a custom steel surround.
A central stone and steel stair tower serves to connect the crow’s nest office on the upper level with the main and lower levels, while delineating the separation between private and public spaces within the home. The juxtaposition of expansive clerestory glazing, industrial steel framing, a steel and stone staircase, rich wood, and the softer interior finishes offer a tapestry of experiences for the owners and visitors alike.
TEXT - Outdoor Amenities
