Minnesota Architecture: Intelligent Design
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
When someone talks about a home with “good design,” what comes to mind?
There are certainly some hallmarks of the concept, but chances are, your definition is probably unique to you. Good design means something different for each of us—such is why homes tend to be so different
and personal.
Fortunately, architects are well schooled in the many, many facets of design. Just as importantly, they know what to ask you to determine how you want your abode to live, and will guide you through the design process to ensure a perfect result, like the homes on the following pages.
“We’re trained in building spaces to make people feel good,” says Bruce Knutson, AIA. “We help people prioritize where money should be spent so it’s going to improve their quality of life.”
Jean Rehkamp Larson, AIA, adds that the design process is truly about teamwork: “We collaborate to strike a harmonious balance between the complex elements which come together to create a great house—site, spaces, sunlight, views, sustainability, and character. The end result is houses that lift the spirit, graciously accommodate daily life, and express the personality of the people who call them home.”
Architecture resources
American Institute of Architects Minnesota
aia-mn.org • 612-338-6763
Bruce Knutson Architects
knutson-architects.com • 612-332-8000
Rehkamp Larson Architects
rehkamplarson.com • 612-285-7275
Jean Rehkamp Larson, AIA
Rehkamp Larson Architects, Inc.
A good neighbor
Photo by Ken Gutmaker
This new home is a good neighbor. It sits comfortably along a street of older houses in the Linden Hills neighborhood of Minneapolis. The home is designed for family living with a generous drop zone and mudroom and an informal open kitchen, family room and dining room. Four bedrooms and a laundry room are tucked up under the roof, allowing ample space for a family of five while steering clear of an imposing exterior mass.
Throughout the interior is a level of detail that we take for granted in older homes—wainscot walls, inset cabinets, and wood ceilings. Paneled transitions and beams create views that have a sequence of layers with warmth
and texture.
About the architect
Jean Rehkamp Larson is passionate about creating great places to live. Her work includes city houses, cabins, and rural farmhouses. She is the author of “The Farmhouse, New Inspiration for the Classic American Home,” published by Taunton Press. Jean and her husband, Mark Larson, started Rehkamp Larson Architects in 2000. With architect parents, their two boys know their way around a floor plan and a construction site.
Bruce Knutson, AIA
Bruce Knutson Architects
Photo by Troy Theis
Optimal flow
Photo by Troy Theis
The owners of this home love where they live. But until recently, the compartmentalized interior of their home was not conducive to their lifestyle.
Remodeling changed all that. Bruce Knutson, AIA, designed a solution for the boxed-in layout. The transformation was completed by David Roth of Viking Construction and Lisa Peck of LiLu Interiors. Opening the walls between several rooms and a hallway was necessary to provide flowing entertaining space. The stairway in the middle of the home presented an obstacle to openness; its relocation unlocked the spaciousness the owners sought. Cased openings between the living room, foyer, dining room, and kitchen define each space without too much separation.
The owners could not be happier with the end product. “It’s the very space we have been wanting to live in,” they say. “The space just naturally fits us.”
About the architect
Bruce Knutson combines his vast experience in both architecture and construction to create unique, cost-effective, award-winning designs. He formed Bruce Knutson Architects in 1975. Today, firm is one of the most respected boutique architect firms in the Twin Cities and has experience working all over the United States.
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