2020 Home of the Month Look Book

PHOTOS: CHAD HOLDER
Nordic Shift
Project type: Remodel
This 1980s home was architecturally designed with interesting
volumes and spaces. Typical of the time, rooms were overly enclosed,
windows were small and the siding was the durable “new
thing”. Nordic Shift began as an uncovering of the inherent traits
and qualities of the house, to shift them into the light. Multiple
exterior studies were done to explore the form of the home with
new textures, materials, and colors, highlighting what was interesting
and unique.
The verticality of the house, along with diminutive windows, created
an odd proportion without much human scale. We introduced
a strong horizontal band created with different cladding
materials. This banding not only reduced the scale of the exterior,
but it also accentuated some of the more interesting feature
of the home, including the monumental sloped roof. The cedar
base was chosen to echo and engage the dense vegetation on the property. Its natural surface provides a raw tactile feel at ground level
where the owners come up close. A heavier material, vertical cedar siding helped to ground the house to the site all around and highlighting
that the lower level is carved into earth.
On the upper half, white painted cement board achieves the opposite effect—it gives a sense of airiness that allows the upper level to lift
towards the sky. The large smooth panels with minimal seams appear more monolithic in nature, a direct contrast to the knotty weathering
cedar below. Large dark clad windows were installed throughout both levels, taking advantage of the surrounding natural beauty
and tying the two cladded materials together with a cohesive element. Laser cut aluminum panels mounted on a floating frame add a
needed visual focal point to the front of the home which lacked a visible front entry. The pattern is a fresh take on a rosemaling pattern,
a traditional Norwegian folk art which held importance to the clients and became a major source of design inspiration both inside and
out. Facing west, these panels provide beautiful sweeping shadows that glide across the front façade during the afternoon and evening
hours. At the front door, they act as an anchor for the new roof canopy and an oversized wall sconce casting light across the entry way.
Major design elements from the outside are repeated on the interior at a more human scale. When entering the home, you are immediately
greeted with a custom formed metal handrail at the entry stair which echoes the shapes of the exterior aluminum panels. A large
glass backsplash which visually connects the entry space to the kitchen is laminated with the same modern
rosemaling pattern. Clean lines articulated in white oak, steel, fresh white, and splashes of color, reflect the
look and feel of the Owners Scandinavian heritage.
CityDeskStudio
www.citydeskstudio.com • (651) 644-1106
Design team: Ben Awes, AIA; Chris Bach
17