This house was the first custom residence designed at the Mayo Woodlands development in Rochester, Minnesota. The project was a collaboration between ALTUS Architecture + Design, landscape architect, Coen + Partners and architect, David Salmela.
The sculptural simplicity of the forms of the house are dramatized by the materials and colors. Two garages, one attached with a loft (gray) and another detached tandem (black) establish an entry courtyard for the house. The main house is rendered by a folded plane of smooth stucco that captures a natural Cedar expression of the north and south faces of the main house as a pair of bookends. The main level is open and transparent to the front and back court spaces, allowing the client to observe their boys playing wherever they are on the site. This level also creates several activity spaces within a larger volume, such as a hearth space, library and informal workspace. The upper level incorporates the bedrooms, laundry, play spaces and offices.
