U N D E R C O N S T R U C T I O N
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Contractor
EHR Construction Start Summer '24 Interiors EHR Photography DLD |
The StoryOccasionally in our line of work, we get the pleasure of working the same homeowners for a second time.
The Orono house was proceed six years earlier by a very different project. In 2016, DLD worked with the homeowners on a rear addition and remodel of their south Minneapolis house - a 1920's era Spanish-style home with stucco walls and a clay tile roof near Minnehaha Creek. 
A rendering of the front facade
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The Project
DESCRIPTION New construction on an open suburban lot
Six years later, the homeowners reached out to DLD again.
This time, for a very different project type.
They had purchased an amazing property in Orono, ideally situated between the Luce Line and Lake Minnetonka and wringed by trees. They asked if we'd like to work with them to design their dream home.
It was a very quick and immediate, "yes".
This time, for a very different project type.
They had purchased an amazing property in Orono, ideally situated between the Luce Line and Lake Minnetonka and wringed by trees. They asked if we'd like to work with them to design their dream home.
It was a very quick and immediate, "yes".
Getting Your Steps In
The first step with any new construction is to walk the site. For the initial visit, we meet the homeowners on site to learn about what they love about the property and the exciting ideas being discussed.
Often we return ourselves over the next several months to better understand and absorb the limits, opportunities, and nature of the property.
It can sound a bit corny, but it's our belief that each property has a personality, a quality and spirit that inform the design direction and guide the design process. Much like measuring a house at the start of a remodel or addition, walking the site, photographing the views, seeing the scale of the landscape and the pitch of topography serve to establish familiarity with the site while documenting existing conditions.
The first step with any new construction is to walk the site. For the initial visit, we meet the homeowners on site to learn about what they love about the property and the exciting ideas being discussed.
Often we return ourselves over the next several months to better understand and absorb the limits, opportunities, and nature of the property.
It can sound a bit corny, but it's our belief that each property has a personality, a quality and spirit that inform the design direction and guide the design process. Much like measuring a house at the start of a remodel or addition, walking the site, photographing the views, seeing the scale of the landscape and the pitch of topography serve to establish familiarity with the site while documenting existing conditions.
Looking west toward the Luce Line, which is directly behind the treeline in the distance
Looking east toward Lake Minnetonka, which is beyond the treeline and down a slope
Often, where to site the house becomes clear, in a general sense, quite quickly, or at least, various options of differing promise become evident.
You just have to look, explore, and listen.
You just have to look, explore, and listen.
Site Analysis
After visiting the site, it is critical to analyze the larger forces at play on and around the property.
How much sun does the site get and from what direction?
What views or landscape features should be blocked or featured?
What are the prevailing wind patterns?
How can we connect to the surrounding properties and roads?
Where is the house most exposed or protected from elements?
After visiting the site, it is critical to analyze the larger forces at play on and around the property.
How much sun does the site get and from what direction?
What views or landscape features should be blocked or featured?
What are the prevailing wind patterns?
How can we connect to the surrounding properties and roads?
Where is the house most exposed or protected from elements?
Working with available aerial imagery, the site forces become evident. With solar maps tuned to the site and the solstices, it's easy to estimate when the sun will appear and from what angles during the various seasons.
Topography on the property was minimal, but the perimeter of trees offered multiple areas to shelter and nestle the house. Balancing all of these elements is part art and part science with a heavy dose of DLD and builder experience and homeowner trust.
Topography on the property was minimal, but the perimeter of trees offered multiple areas to shelter and nestle the house. Balancing all of these elements is part art and part science with a heavy dose of DLD and builder experience and homeowner trust.
Siting the Building
During initial site analysis, we considered and adjusted the house location eight times, tweaking it to accommodate property set backs, solar and wind patterns, views from the house, approach to the house, and to highlight existing landscape elements such as mature trees or lake views.
We also met on site multiple times to stake out the building location to test the site layout options and see how they fit our assumptions, to determine the proximity to the surrounding tree line, and the ease of driveway access and approach.
This process is critical and worth every moment of consideration as changes later can be greatly limited if not impossible, or, at a minimum, extremely costly.
During initial site analysis, we considered and adjusted the house location eight times, tweaking it to accommodate property set backs, solar and wind patterns, views from the house, approach to the house, and to highlight existing landscape elements such as mature trees or lake views.
We also met on site multiple times to stake out the building location to test the site layout options and see how they fit our assumptions, to determine the proximity to the surrounding tree line, and the ease of driveway access and approach.
This process is critical and worth every moment of consideration as changes later can be greatly limited if not impossible, or, at a minimum, extremely costly.
Site Design
Working within site parameters and folding in programmatic features and construction budget, an initial site design can be pursued. The process is conceptual, loose and intended to review and test options quickly.
The below table shows the various layouts considered for the project in gestural sketch form. It is much like a conversation, but in drawing form.
Working within site parameters and folding in programmatic features and construction budget, an initial site design can be pursued. The process is conceptual, loose and intended to review and test options quickly.
The below table shows the various layouts considered for the project in gestural sketch form. It is much like a conversation, but in drawing form.
The drawings are about larger spatial relationships with regard to room placement and adjacency, building massing and square footage, simple floor plan configuration, and response to the site.
This effort can be challenging as the scale of information is macro, general, and suggestive. The process requires imagination, being open to possibilities not before considered, and a bit of patience as it may take several iterations to land on a promising layout.
This effort can be challenging as the scale of information is macro, general, and suggestive. The process requires imagination, being open to possibilities not before considered, and a bit of patience as it may take several iterations to land on a promising layout.
