Streeter Residence in Deephaven, Minnesota by Salmela Architect

Article source: Salmela Architect 

Our client has been a contractor of high-end custom homes for the last 20 years. This, the 7^th in a series of houses he has built for himself, is essentially an exercise in architecture and building that explores the boundaries of prefabrication within the realm of architecture and the aesthetic expectations within the custom home market.

Image Courtesy Salmela Architect & Peter Bastianelli Kerze

• Architects: Salmela Architect
• Project: Streeter Residence
• Photographer: Peter Bastianelli Kerze
• Location: Deephaven, Minnesota, USA
• Site Characteristics: Site situated between two wetland areas.
• Client: Kevin Streeter
• Client program: A home for a father and son., Open plan (there are only two interior doors), Natural light., Access to grade., Clarity of structure., Innovation of materials.
• Construction System: Concrete Masonry Unit lower level walls., Glulam roof and floor beams., SIP roof deck, floor deck and upper level walls., Glass in-fill., Exposed mechanical and electrical.
• Sustainable Features: Reclaimed cypress exterior wood finish (from pickle vats), Concrete masonry units made using local power plant fly ash in aggregate.
• Schedule: Construction start:  Fall 2003, Construction complete:  Fall 2004
• Square Footage: 3,000
• Software used: AutoCAD
• Specific Materials: Typical block masonry units., Poured concrete floors with Ardex oil finish., Structural Wood douglas fir laminated beams., R-Control SIP panels with factory Fire Finish., H-Window doors and windows., Custom built garage doors., Single-ply EPDM roofs., Galvalume standing seam metal siding., Reclaimed cypress wood siding., Valcucine cabinetry., Douglas fir wood flooring., Concrete pavers., Ipe wood deck. 

Image Courtesy Salmela Architect & Peter Bastianelli Kerze

Unlike many prefabricated houses, this house was not designed around a prefabricated system or product. Instead, we developed a house for him and his son that is generous in its functions, sensitive in its relationship with the land and maintained an honest expression of its materials.

Image Courtesy Salmela Architect & Peter Bastianelli Kerze

The use of stock materials and an elaborated development of Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) construction were applied to the design. The resulting richness of this house stems from the contradictions that exist between the ideas of custom and prefabrication.

Image Courtesy Salmela Architect & Peter Bastianelli Kerze

Built on a small parcel of land that many deemed un-build able because of an easterly pond and a westerly wet land, this house nestles into one of the most dramatic and natural “yards” in the neighborhood, having little-to-no impact on the surrounding site. The house is comprised of a kit of parts: glass, concrete block, Glulam beams, SIPs and pipe.

Image Courtesy Salmela Architect & Peter Bastianelli Kerze

Despite the maximum use of glazing, that fluidly connects the interior living spaces to the exterior environment, the shading and privacy techniques that are incorporated into the architecture of the home allow the interior spaces to be naturally lit throughout the day without the need for lighting, shades or maintenance-type privacy fencing.

Image Courtesy Salmela Architect & Peter Bastianelli Kerze

With locally manufactured 12”x12”x24” black fly-ash concrete block (made specifically for this project) left exposed on the exterior and interior, a polished concrete floor, exposed beams and conduit, and not one ceramic or glass tile in the house; the honesty and practicality is evident. Yet, the garage is finished as if it is another room in the house, with the same lighting, fixtures and materials.

Image Courtesy Salmela Architect & Peter Bastianelli Kerze

The structural system of the house maintains the honesty of expression. Prefabricated and predrilled Glulam beams sit on the concrete block and support the large boxes (bedrooms) that sit above the main living space. These two boxes (as well as all non-masonry walls and roofs) are constructed entirely of SIPs with a factory-applied gypsum finish. The use of SIPs for the  roof and wall systems have an increased insulation value of 33% above current code requirements making this house responsible today and for years to come.

Image Courtesy Salmela Architect & Peter Bastianelli Kerze

All galvanized and plastic pipes for the electrical and mechanical conduit are left raw and exposed like veins throughout the house. A separate building/tower housing the mechanical systems is given an unprecedented prominence. What started as another house-project for our client, resulted in a building that holds unexpected value. The thought of moving on from this house to tackle project #8 is not as easy as it once was.

Image Courtesy Salmela Architect & Peter Bastianelli Kerze

Image Courtesy Salmela Architect & Peter Bastianelli Kerze

Image Courtesy Salmela Architect & Peter Bastianelli Kerze

Image Courtesy Salmela Architect & Peter Bastianelli Kerze

Image Courtesy Salmela Architect & Peter Bastianelli Kerze

Image Courtesy Salmela Architect & Peter Bastianelli Kerze

Image Courtesy Salmela Architect & Peter Bastianelli Kerze

Image Courtesy Salmela Architect & Peter Bastianelli Kerze

Image Courtesy Salmela Architect & Peter Bastianelli Kerze

Image Courtesy Salmela Architect & Peter Bastianelli Kerze

Image Courtesy Salmela Architect

Tags: Minnesota, USA

Categories: Autocad, House, Residential

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