Quite often stripping away and pulling down, uncovering and revealing, is our biggest task. When remodeling a home, the canvas is not blank. The constraints are many and limitations exist in all four directions. This project was no different. The clients held hope that the home could be transformed into something fully new. What we saw was great space, but no light. We believed that if we let the light in the house would transform.

Built in 1962, the house needed some updates, but was in good shape overall. One of the first challenges of this home was that the entry was a story below the main living space. Creating a welcoming, interesting, and functional entry was critical. We added glass to allow more views in and out, created a small area for coats and shoes, and rebuilt the stair into a sculptural element that ties the two floors together.

Through the main level core of the home, we took down walls, added new windows, and brought existing windows down to the floor. This extended the main living area out, borrowing space and air from the private surrounding woods.

Most dramatically, along the ridgeline and central movement spine of the home, we cut a 25-foot clear glass skylight. Through this slice, we left the roof trusses intact. With the dense tree canopy above, the exposed roof structure serves to filter and bounce the light, flooding the middle of the home. The skylight is oriented north south and on sunny days it acts as a sundial revealing the time and seasons.

By adding and enlarging windows wherever possible, opening a portion of the roof to the sky via a dramatic skylight, and combining rooms to create living spaces with views to the adjacent woods in every direction, this modern and elegant renovation transforms a dark and fragmented layout into a light-filled retreat among the trees.

Location: North Oaks, MN

Completed: 2020

Project Team: Ben Awes, AIA, Principal-in-Charge Chris Bach, AIA

Quite often stripping away and pulling down, uncovering and revealing, is our biggest task. When remodeling a home, the canvas is not blank. The constraints are many and limitations exist in all four directions. This project was no different. The clients held hope that the home could be transformed into something fully new. What we saw was great space, but no light. We believed that if we let the light in the house would transform.

Built in 1962, the house needed some updates, but was in good shape overall. One of the first challenges of this home was that the entry was a story below the main living space. Creating a welcoming, interesting, and functional entry was critical. We added glass to allow more views in and out, created a small area for coats and shoes, and rebuilt the stair into a sculptural element that ties the two floors together.

Through the main level core of the home, we took down walls, added new windows, and brought existing windows down to the floor. This extended the main living area out, borrowing space and air from the private surrounding woods.

Most dramatically, along the ridgeline and central movement spine of the home, we cut a 25-foot clear glass skylight. Through this slice, we left the roof trusses intact. With the dense tree canopy above, the exposed roof structure serves to filter and bounce the light, flooding the middle of the home. The skylight is oriented north south and on sunny days it acts as a sundial revealing the time and seasons.

By adding and enlarging windows wherever possible, opening a portion of the roof to the sky via a dramatic skylight, and combining rooms to create living spaces with views to the adjacent woods in every direction, this modern and elegant renovation transforms a dark and fragmented layout into a light-filled retreat among the trees.

Location: North Oaks, MN

Completed: 2020

Project Team: Ben Awes, AIA, Principal-in-Charge Chris Bach, AIA

Quite often stripping away and pulling down, uncovering and revealing, is our biggest task. When remodeling a home, the canvas is not blank. The constraints are many and limitations exist in all four directions. This project was no different. The clients held hope that the home could be transformed into something fully new. What we saw was great space, but no light. We believed that if we let the light in the house would transform.

Built in 1962, the house needed some updates, but was in good shape overall. One of the first challenges of this home was that the entry was a story below the main living space. Creating a welcoming, interesting, and functional entry was critical. We added glass to allow more views in and out, created a small area for coats and shoes, and rebuilt the stair into a sculptural element that ties the two floors together.

Through the main level core of the home, we took down walls, added new windows, and brought existing windows down to the floor. This extended the main living area out, borrowing space and air from the private surrounding woods.

Most dramatically, along the ridgeline and central movement spine of the home, we cut a 25-foot clear glass skylight. Through this slice, we left the roof trusses intact. With the dense tree canopy above, the exposed roof structure serves to filter and bounce the light, flooding the middle of the home. The skylight is oriented north south and on sunny days it acts as a sundial revealing the time and seasons.

By adding and enlarging windows wherever possible, opening a portion of the roof to the sky via a dramatic skylight, and combining rooms to create living spaces with views to the adjacent woods in every direction, this modern and elegant renovation transforms a dark and fragmented layout into a light-filled retreat among the trees.

Location: North Oaks, MN

Completed: 2020

Project Team: Ben Awes, AIA, Principal-in-Charge Chris Bach, AIA

Quite often stripping away and pulling down, uncovering and revealing, is our biggest task. When remodeling a home, the canvas is not blank. The constraints are many and limitations exist in all four directions. This project was no different. The clients held hope that the home could be transformed into something fully new. What we saw was great space, but no light. We believed that if we let the light in the house would transform.

Built in 1962, the house needed some updates, but was in good shape overall. One of the first challenges of this home was that the entry was a story below the main living space. Creating a welcoming, interesting, and functional entry was critical. We added glass to allow more views in and out, created a small area for coats and shoes, and rebuilt the stair into a sculptural element that ties the two floors together.

Through the main level core of the home, we took down walls, added new windows, and brought existing windows down to the floor. This extended the main living area out, borrowing space and air from the private surrounding woods.

Most dramatically, along the ridgeline and central movement spine of the home, we cut a 25-foot clear glass skylight. Through this slice, we left the roof trusses intact. With the dense tree canopy above, the exposed roof structure serves to filter and bounce the light, flooding the middle of the home. The skylight is oriented north south and on sunny days it acts as a sundial revealing the time and seasons.

By adding and enlarging windows wherever possible, opening a portion of the roof to the sky via a dramatic skylight, and combining rooms to create living spaces with views to the adjacent woods in every direction, this modern and elegant renovation transforms a dark and fragmented layout into a light-filled retreat among the trees.

Location: North Oaks, MN

Completed: 2020

Project Team: Ben Awes, AIA, Principal-in-Charge Chris Bach, AIA

Quite often stripping away and pulling down, uncovering and revealing, is our biggest task. When remodeling a home, the canvas is not blank. The constraints are many and limitations exist in all four directions. This project was no different. The clients held hope that the home could be transformed into something fully new. What we saw was great space, but no light. We believed that if we let the light in the house would transform.

Built in 1962, the house needed some updates, but was in good shape overall. One of the first challenges of this home was that the entry was a story below the main living space. Creating a welcoming, interesting, and functional entry was critical. We added glass to allow more views in and out, created a small area for coats and shoes, and rebuilt the stair into a sculptural element that ties the two floors together.

Through the main level core of the home, we took down walls, added new windows, and brought existing windows down to the floor. This extended the main living area out, borrowing space and air from the private surrounding woods.

Most dramatically, along the ridgeline and central movement spine of the home, we cut a 25-foot clear glass skylight. Through this slice, we left the roof trusses intact. With the dense tree canopy above, the exposed roof structure serves to filter and bounce the light, flooding the middle of the home. The skylight is oriented north south and on sunny days it acts as a sundial revealing the time and seasons.

By adding and enlarging windows wherever possible, opening a portion of the roof to the sky via a dramatic skylight, and combining rooms to create living spaces with views to the adjacent woods in every direction, this modern and elegant renovation transforms a dark and fragmented layout into a light-filled retreat among the trees.

Location: North Oaks, MN

Completed: 2020

Project Team: Ben Awes, AIA, Principal-in-Charge Chris Bach, AIA

Quite often stripping away and pulling down, uncovering and revealing, is our biggest task. When remodeling a home, the canvas is not blank. The constraints are many and limitations exist in all four directions. This project was no different. The clients held hope that the home could be transformed into something fully new. What we saw was great space, but no light. We believed that if we let the light in the house would transform.

Built in 1962, the house needed some updates, but was in good shape overall. One of the first challenges of this home was that the entry was a story below the main living space. Creating a welcoming, interesting, and functional entry was critical. We added glass to allow more views in and out, created a small area for coats and shoes, and rebuilt the stair into a sculptural element that ties the two floors together.

Through the main level core of the home, we took down walls, added new windows, and brought existing windows down to the floor. This extended the main living area out, borrowing space and air from the private surrounding woods.

Most dramatically, along the ridgeline and central movement spine of the home, we cut a 25-foot clear glass skylight. Through this slice, we left the roof trusses intact. With the dense tree canopy above, the exposed roof structure serves to filter and bounce the light, flooding the middle of the home. The skylight is oriented north south and on sunny days it acts as a sundial revealing the time and seasons.

By adding and enlarging windows wherever possible, opening a portion of the roof to the sky via a dramatic skylight, and combining rooms to create living spaces with views to the adjacent woods in every direction, this modern and elegant renovation transforms a dark and fragmented layout into a light-filled retreat among the trees.

Location: North Oaks, MN

Completed: 2020

Project Team: Ben Awes, AIA, Principal-in-Charge Chris Bach, AIA

Quite often stripping away and pulling down, uncovering and revealing, is our biggest task. When remodeling a home, the canvas is not blank. The constraints are many and limitations exist in all four directions. This project was no different. The clients held hope that the home could be transformed into something fully new. What we saw was great space, but no light. We believed that if we let the light in the house would transform.

Built in 1962, the house needed some updates, but was in good shape overall. One of the first challenges of this home was that the entry was a story below the main living space. Creating a welcoming, interesting, and functional entry was critical. We added glass to allow more views in and out, created a small area for coats and shoes, and rebuilt the stair into a sculptural element that ties the two floors together.

Through the main level core of the home, we took down walls, added new windows, and brought existing windows down to the floor. This extended the main living area out, borrowing space and air from the private surrounding woods.

Most dramatically, along the ridgeline and central movement spine of the home, we cut a 25-foot clear glass skylight. Through this slice, we left the roof trusses intact. With the dense tree canopy above, the exposed roof structure serves to filter and bounce the light, flooding the middle of the home. The skylight is oriented north south and on sunny days it acts as a sundial revealing the time and seasons.

By adding and enlarging windows wherever possible, opening a portion of the roof to the sky via a dramatic skylight, and combining rooms to create living spaces with views to the adjacent woods in every direction, this modern and elegant renovation transforms a dark and fragmented layout into a light-filled retreat among the trees.

Location: North Oaks, MN

Completed: 2020

Project Team: Ben Awes, AIA, Principal-in-Charge Chris Bach, AIA

Quite often stripping away and pulling down, uncovering and revealing, is our biggest task. When remodeling a home, the canvas is not blank. The constraints are many and limitations exist in all four directions. This project was no different. The clients held hope that the home could be transformed into something fully new. What we saw was great space, but no light. We believed that if we let the light in the house would transform.

Built in 1962, the house needed some updates, but was in good shape overall. One of the first challenges of this home was that the entry was a story below the main living space. Creating a welcoming, interesting, and functional entry was critical. We added glass to allow more views in and out, created a small area for coats and shoes, and rebuilt the stair into a sculptural element that ties the two floors together.

Through the main level core of the home, we took down walls, added new windows, and brought existing windows down to the floor. This extended the main living area out, borrowing space and air from the private surrounding woods.

Most dramatically, along the ridgeline and central movement spine of the home, we cut a 25-foot clear glass skylight. Through this slice, we left the roof trusses intact. With the dense tree canopy above, the exposed roof structure serves to filter and bounce the light, flooding the middle of the home. The skylight is oriented north south and on sunny days it acts as a sundial revealing the time and seasons.

By adding and enlarging windows wherever possible, opening a portion of the roof to the sky via a dramatic skylight, and combining rooms to create living spaces with views to the adjacent woods in every direction, this modern and elegant renovation transforms a dark and fragmented layout into a light-filled retreat among the trees.

Location: North Oaks, MN

Completed: 2020

Project Team: Ben Awes, AIA, Principal-in-Charge Chris Bach, AIA

Quite often stripping away and pulling down, uncovering and revealing, is our biggest task. When remodeling a home, the canvas is not blank. The constraints are many and limitations exist in all four directions. This project was no different. The clients held hope that the home could be transformed into something fully new. What we saw was great space, but no light. We believed that if we let the light in the house would transform.

Built in 1962, the house needed some updates, but was in good shape overall. One of the first challenges of this home was that the entry was a story below the main living space. Creating a welcoming, interesting, and functional entry was critical. We added glass to allow more views in and out, created a small area for coats and shoes, and rebuilt the stair into a sculptural element that ties the two floors together.

Through the main level core of the home, we took down walls, added new windows, and brought existing windows down to the floor. This extended the main living area out, borrowing space and air from the private surrounding woods.

Most dramatically, along the ridgeline and central movement spine of the home, we cut a 25-foot clear glass skylight. Through this slice, we left the roof trusses intact. With the dense tree canopy above, the exposed roof structure serves to filter and bounce the light, flooding the middle of the home. The skylight is oriented north south and on sunny days it acts as a sundial revealing the time and seasons.

By adding and enlarging windows wherever possible, opening a portion of the roof to the sky via a dramatic skylight, and combining rooms to create living spaces with views to the adjacent woods in every direction, this modern and elegant renovation transforms a dark and fragmented layout into a light-filled retreat among the trees.

Location: North Oaks, MN

Completed: 2020

Project Team: Ben Awes, AIA, Principal-in-Charge Chris Bach, AIA

Quite often stripping away and pulling down, uncovering and revealing, is our biggest task. When remodeling a home, the canvas is not blank. The constraints are many and limitations exist in all four directions. This project was no different. The clients held hope that the home could be transformed into something fully new. What we saw was great space, but no light. We believed that if we let the light in the house would transform.

Built in 1962, the house needed some updates, but was in good shape overall. One of the first challenges of this home was that the entry was a story below the main living space. Creating a welcoming, interesting, and functional entry was critical. We added glass to allow more views in and out, created a small area for coats and shoes, and rebuilt the stair into a sculptural element that ties the two floors together.

Through the main level core of the home, we took down walls, added new windows, and brought existing windows down to the floor. This extended the main living area out, borrowing space and air from the private surrounding woods.

Most dramatically, along the ridgeline and central movement spine of the home, we cut a 25-foot clear glass skylight. Through this slice, we left the roof trusses intact. With the dense tree canopy above, the exposed roof structure serves to filter and bounce the light, flooding the middle of the home. The skylight is oriented north south and on sunny days it acts as a sundial revealing the time and seasons.

By adding and enlarging windows wherever possible, opening a portion of the roof to the sky via a dramatic skylight, and combining rooms to create living spaces with views to the adjacent woods in every direction, this modern and elegant renovation transforms a dark and fragmented layout into a light-filled retreat among the trees.

Location: North Oaks, MN

Completed: 2020

Project Team: Ben Awes, AIA, Principal-in-Charge Chris Bach, AIA