Project Details
- Project Name
- Sweeny Lake Residence
- Location
- MN
- Architect
- Peterssen/Keller Architecture
- Project Types
- Single Family
- Size
- 6,100 sq. feet
- Year Completed
- 2018
- Project Status
- On the Boards/In Progress
Project Description
The client, a media entrepreneur in his early 30s, commissioned the architecture firm to design a dynamic modern house on a pie-shaped lot overlooking a suburban lake. The client, who grew up in a Mediterranean country, had a specific vision for his house. Among his list of must-have design features, the client wanted maximum privacy yet an abundance of glass. He also wanted Mediterranean-style circulation, wide hallways, and a swimming pool, yet he didn’t want the required pool fence to obstruct the view of the lake. A car enthusiast, the client also wanted an attached, three-car garage with a doorway into the house that offered the same, inviting guest experience as the front door. The designers solved the challenge of the pie-shaped lot by creating two rectangular “boxes” and placing them perpendicular to each other with a two-story glass entryway in between. They also masked the garage by placing it inside one of the boxes finished with clear cedar. To address the client’s desire for abundant glass and privacy, the designers designed the two-story house as a glass plinth topped by stone and sank it deep into the hillside. To preserve the views of the lake, the designers placed the swimming pool in an entry court at the front of the house. To balance the client’s request for a contemporary open floor plan with generous circulation, the designers created a master suite and three bedrooms on the second floor and a wide living and dining area on the first floor. To create natural sight lines and interaction between the various levels of the homes, the designers created double-height hallways that also prevent guests from seeing pantries and other service areas. By turning contradictions into inspired juxtapositions, the designers succeeded in creating the client’s dream home.