2023 Home of the Month Look Book

Home of the Month
Selected Project
Photos: Troy Thies
Torched & Porched | Remodel & New Build
The owners wanted to recycle a small, dated, inefficient home and
replace it with a small, modern, energy-efficient one to accommodate
a young family of five. The resulting house is a one-and-a-half-story,
compact home that finds the sweet spot between the one- and twostory
homes in its evolving neighborhood. A simple palate of materials
resonates inside and out. The exterior sports a black, standing-seam
metal roof and Shou Sugi Ban siding as a rich backdrop to the two
natural cedar porches in the front and back. The interior is white with
maple floors, doors, and cabinets as well as accents of black metal
lamps and bar stools.
The owners were never interested in expansive square footage; they
simply wanted a modest home that lived large, within walking distance of a neighborhood school for their three
boys. On the main level, the architect achieved this with an open plan with nine-foot ceilings and an anchoring
kitchen flanked by living and dining; a mudroom alcove and a small “away room” are the only counterpoints. The
basement is a wide-open, indestructible homage to the Minnesota Twins’ demolished Metrodome, where this
baseball-loving family can play Wiffle ball to their hearts’ delight all year long.
SALA Architects
salaarc.com • (612) 379-3037
Design team: Eric Odor, AIA; Nate Ehrlich
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