Email
Print
del.icio.us
digg
FeedPersistence of Memory
A London native rediscovers his past in a riverfront loft
By Alecia stevens
Photo by ken gutmaker | styled by david anger
(page 1 of 2)
The spareness of this loft makes for a space of distinction here in the heartland, where the colors of nature, warm-toned woods, and cozy upholstery often prevail. Though thoroughly modern, the aesthetic and the artful mix of furnishings hold heartfelt connections for the Young marketing executive who owns the home.Recalling his childhood in London in the 1970s and 1980s, the homeowner hones in on memories of first seeing the Barbican, a development rising like a phoenix from the ashes of an area of central London devastated during World War II. The project, first conceived in 1955, finally opened its doors to the public in 1982, bringing modernist architecture to a city steeped in tradition. Built around three tower blocks on the Thames, it was a monolith of concrete that included a school of music and drama, concert halls, art galleries, residential housing, and retail shops.
“One of my earliest memories is looking up, seeing the towers, and thinking, ‘That would be the coolest place to live,’” he recalls fondly. “I loved the river and theatre nearby.” He eventually bought an apartment in the Barbican and lived there from 1996 to 2002.
Lured to Minneapolis by a marketing position at a top agency, the same man is now living ... where else? In a concrete shell in the Humboldt Lofts on the river next to a theater. It may be the Mississippi River and the daring new Guthrie, but the coincidence cannot go unnoticed. “I don’t think I did this consciously,” he says, “but I immediately felt at home here. I guess we re-discover our past as we go along.”
Photo by Ken Gutmaker
Penfield returns the compliment. “He was very sophisticated, had a great base of knowledge for both furnishings and art, and so I just helped him realize his vision. He travels with work and needed a calm, quiet place to come home to,” she explains. “That’s what we did.”
They began with structural changes, which included removing traditional stair railings and cherry kitchen cabinets. “They were much too warm for this industrial space,” he recalls, with a look that makes it clear he is not a fan of cherry. In its place, they designed a kitchen of commercial-grade stainless steel, which reflects light rather than absorbs it. Also in pursuit of light, Penfield designed a stainless and glass railing system for the stairs, allowing light to move through the main floor and down into the lower level. Finally, Penfield suggested adding the massive mirror that sits on the floor in the dining area, reflecting the natural light from the windows during the day and the sparkling chandelier at night. “I think I love the mirror more than anything else,” he admits.
11 ISSUES (1 YEAR)
