It’s time to begin planning your (virtual) route for the 2020 Homes By Architects Tour Saturday, September 26 through October 10, 2020! SALA Architects is pleased to be showcasing two homes this year by David Wagner and Eric Odor !
Summer’s unofficial end for the SALA Office is the annual Homes by Architect’s Tour – a chance for us to showcase some of our recent work and meet architecture lovers, professionals and newcomers from around the Twin Cities.
Home 10: Mid-Century Primary
DESIGN TEAM: David O’Brien Wagner, AIA; Marta Snow, AIA
PROJECT TYPE: Renovation
HOME SPONSOR: Welch Forsman Associates
PROJECT LOCATION: Minneapolis, MN
This 1963 architect-designed home, originally designed by St. Paul architects Herbert B. Crommert and Associates, needed thoughtful design work to make it livable for a modern couple without diminishing its midcentury aesthetic. A clunky renovation of the kitchen years prior made the space cramped, dark, and out of sync with the rest of this midcentury home. The clients desired a remodel that resonated with the strong architectural character of their home. Primary colors were used throughout the new design work to play off of the original bright red accents of the home.
Each design decision carefully considered how it would both provide the owners with the function they needed while complementing and preserving the modern character of the home. This can be seen in the selection of a light gray wash to the kitchen cabinetry which provides a brighter space, while also visually connecting to the grain pattern of existing darker stained wood in the home. It is also found in the use of thin black steel accents in the library shelving as well as the powder room sink supports derived from the existing stair rail.
Collaboration with local artist Eileen Cohen led to a visually stunning two-story ceramic art installation that grounds the living room space. Placement of the ceramic pieces adjacent to the floor-to-ceiling glass window allows for an ever-changing play of light and shadow.
Home 17: River Roost
DESIGN TEAM: Eric Odor, AIA; Ben Dose
PROJECT TYPE: New Construction
HOME SPONSOR: Showcase Renovations
PROJECT LOCATION: St. Paul, MN
This two-story, four-bedroom River Boulevard house is a linear affair, with each space seeking a visual connection to the river in front and the backyard in the back. The homeowners sought a unique combination of open and closed floor plans, resulting in an innovative, atypical, and fluid design with differing degrees of visual separation and spatial definition throughout.
The fun begins at the front door, as visitors enter one large, sunlit open space metered by three wood “boxes:” one a mudroom, one a pantry, and the third a soaring tower of vertical circulation for the home.
The exterior of the home features sustainable green roofs and is clad in cement board, cedar, and stone siding. The structure is capped with flat roofs and soaring eaves to complete the distinct profile of this one-of-a-kind home.
For tickets and other tour information please visit AIA Minnesota’s Homes By Architects Tour page. We look forward to seeing you all on the tour!!