A beautiful, steeply sloped property provides this 1960’s home with wonderful views and secluded privacy.  In addition to their day jobs she is an award winning gardener, and he a self-taught home remodeler.  Over time they have transformed this home into a place of retreat.  However, the home lacked connection to the garden in the rear – their pride and joy.  The final wish for the home was a place to capture the views, bringing the garden inside, and to take advantage of the dramatic height towards the street and the natural pond beyond. 

Entering below, the main floor is one level above, set on grade with the rear garden.  The new level was to be up another floor still.  The program for the space included a spare bedroom, a home office, and the main goal of an entertainment room and rooftop terrace. 

The home already had a strong modern boxy aesthetic and the homeowners hoped to extend and heighten this feel.  The new level pushes this to the limit with crisp white cladding made distinctive with contrasted black reveals, creating a digital high definition image.  In contrast, the garden is referenced in the artificial turf used for the terrace – a remarkably comfortable surface that has proven to be one of the most enjoyed elements of the project.  A new stair was inserted top to bottom within the existing central stair footprint. The walls, once closed and confined, were opened up both internally to the spaces around, and also to the outside, with a two story glass wall facing the garden, bringing news view and needed light deep into the house.

Location:          Golden Valley, MN

Completed:     2012

Project Team:
Ben Awes AIA, Principal-In-Charge
Bob Ganser AIA
Christian Dean AIA

A beautiful, steeply sloped property provides this 1960’s home with wonderful views and secluded privacy.  In addition to their day jobs she is an award winning gardener, and he a self-taught home remodeler.  Over time they have transformed this home into a place of retreat.  However, the home lacked connection to the garden in the rear – their pride and joy.  The final wish for the home was a place to capture the views, bringing the garden inside, and to take advantage of the dramatic height towards the street and the natural pond beyond. 

Entering below, the main floor is one level above, set on grade with the rear garden.  The new level was to be up another floor still.  The program for the space included a spare bedroom, a home office, and the main goal of an entertainment room and rooftop terrace. 

The home already had a strong modern boxy aesthetic and the homeowners hoped to extend and heighten this feel.  The new level pushes this to the limit with crisp white cladding made distinctive with contrasted black reveals, creating a digital high definition image.  In contrast, the garden is referenced in the artificial turf used for the terrace – a remarkably comfortable surface that has proven to be one of the most enjoyed elements of the project.  A new stair was inserted top to bottom within the existing central stair footprint. The walls, once closed and confined, were opened up both internally to the spaces around, and also to the outside, with a two story glass wall facing the garden, bringing news view and needed light deep into the house.

Location:          Golden Valley, MN

Completed:     2012

Project Team:
Ben Awes AIA, Principal-In-Charge
Bob Ganser AIA
Christian Dean AIA

A beautiful, steeply sloped property provides this 1960’s home with wonderful views and secluded privacy.  In addition to their day jobs she is an award winning gardener, and he a self-taught home remodeler.  Over time they have transformed this home into a place of retreat.  However, the home lacked connection to the garden in the rear – their pride and joy.  The final wish for the home was a place to capture the views, bringing the garden inside, and to take advantage of the dramatic height towards the street and the natural pond beyond. 

Entering below, the main floor is one level above, set on grade with the rear garden.  The new level was to be up another floor still.  The program for the space included a spare bedroom, a home office, and the main goal of an entertainment room and rooftop terrace. 

The home already had a strong modern boxy aesthetic and the homeowners hoped to extend and heighten this feel.  The new level pushes this to the limit with crisp white cladding made distinctive with contrasted black reveals, creating a digital high definition image.  In contrast, the garden is referenced in the artificial turf used for the terrace – a remarkably comfortable surface that has proven to be one of the most enjoyed elements of the project.  A new stair was inserted top to bottom within the existing central stair footprint. The walls, once closed and confined, were opened up both internally to the spaces around, and also to the outside, with a two story glass wall facing the garden, bringing news view and needed light deep into the house.

Location:          Golden Valley, MN

Completed:     2012

Project Team:
Ben Awes AIA, Principal-In-Charge
Bob Ganser AIA
Christian Dean AIA

A beautiful, steeply sloped property provides this 1960’s home with wonderful views and secluded privacy.  In addition to their day jobs she is an award winning gardener, and he a self-taught home remodeler.  Over time they have transformed this home into a place of retreat.  However, the home lacked connection to the garden in the rear – their pride and joy.  The final wish for the home was a place to capture the views, bringing the garden inside, and to take advantage of the dramatic height towards the street and the natural pond beyond. 

Entering below, the main floor is one level above, set on grade with the rear garden.  The new level was to be up another floor still.  The program for the space included a spare bedroom, a home office, and the main goal of an entertainment room and rooftop terrace. 

The home already had a strong modern boxy aesthetic and the homeowners hoped to extend and heighten this feel.  The new level pushes this to the limit with crisp white cladding made distinctive with contrasted black reveals, creating a digital high definition image.  In contrast, the garden is referenced in the artificial turf used for the terrace – a remarkably comfortable surface that has proven to be one of the most enjoyed elements of the project.  A new stair was inserted top to bottom within the existing central stair footprint. The walls, once closed and confined, were opened up both internally to the spaces around, and also to the outside, with a two story glass wall facing the garden, bringing news view and needed light deep into the house.

Location:          Golden Valley, MN

Completed:     2012

Project Team:
Ben Awes AIA, Principal-In-Charge
Bob Ganser AIA
Christian Dean AIA

A beautiful, steeply sloped property provides this 1960’s home with wonderful views and secluded privacy.  In addition to their day jobs she is an award winning gardener, and he a self-taught home remodeler.  Over time they have transformed this home into a place of retreat.  However, the home lacked connection to the garden in the rear – their pride and joy.  The final wish for the home was a place to capture the views, bringing the garden inside, and to take advantage of the dramatic height towards the street and the natural pond beyond. 

Entering below, the main floor is one level above, set on grade with the rear garden.  The new level was to be up another floor still.  The program for the space included a spare bedroom, a home office, and the main goal of an entertainment room and rooftop terrace. 

The home already had a strong modern boxy aesthetic and the homeowners hoped to extend and heighten this feel.  The new level pushes this to the limit with crisp white cladding made distinctive with contrasted black reveals, creating a digital high definition image.  In contrast, the garden is referenced in the artificial turf used for the terrace – a remarkably comfortable surface that has proven to be one of the most enjoyed elements of the project.  A new stair was inserted top to bottom within the existing central stair footprint. The walls, once closed and confined, were opened up both internally to the spaces around, and also to the outside, with a two story glass wall facing the garden, bringing news view and needed light deep into the house.

Location:          Golden Valley, MN

Completed:     2012

Project Team:
Ben Awes AIA, Principal-In-Charge
Bob Ganser AIA
Christian Dean AIA

A beautiful, steeply sloped property provides this 1960’s home with wonderful views and secluded privacy.  In addition to their day jobs she is an award winning gardener, and he a self-taught home remodeler.  Over time they have transformed this home into a place of retreat.  However, the home lacked connection to the garden in the rear – their pride and joy.  The final wish for the home was a place to capture the views, bringing the garden inside, and to take advantage of the dramatic height towards the street and the natural pond beyond. 

Entering below, the main floor is one level above, set on grade with the rear garden.  The new level was to be up another floor still.  The program for the space included a spare bedroom, a home office, and the main goal of an entertainment room and rooftop terrace. 

The home already had a strong modern boxy aesthetic and the homeowners hoped to extend and heighten this feel.  The new level pushes this to the limit with crisp white cladding made distinctive with contrasted black reveals, creating a digital high definition image.  In contrast, the garden is referenced in the artificial turf used for the terrace – a remarkably comfortable surface that has proven to be one of the most enjoyed elements of the project.  A new stair was inserted top to bottom within the existing central stair footprint. The walls, once closed and confined, were opened up both internally to the spaces around, and also to the outside, with a two story glass wall facing the garden, bringing news view and needed light deep into the house.

Location:          Golden Valley, MN

Completed:     2012

Project Team:
Ben Awes AIA, Principal-In-Charge
Bob Ganser AIA
Christian Dean AIA

A beautiful, steeply sloped property provides this 1960’s home with wonderful views and secluded privacy.  In addition to their day jobs she is an award winning gardener, and he a self-taught home remodeler.  Over time they have transformed this home into a place of retreat.  However, the home lacked connection to the garden in the rear – their pride and joy.  The final wish for the home was a place to capture the views, bringing the garden inside, and to take advantage of the dramatic height towards the street and the natural pond beyond. 

Entering below, the main floor is one level above, set on grade with the rear garden.  The new level was to be up another floor still.  The program for the space included a spare bedroom, a home office, and the main goal of an entertainment room and rooftop terrace. 

The home already had a strong modern boxy aesthetic and the homeowners hoped to extend and heighten this feel.  The new level pushes this to the limit with crisp white cladding made distinctive with contrasted black reveals, creating a digital high definition image.  In contrast, the garden is referenced in the artificial turf used for the terrace – a remarkably comfortable surface that has proven to be one of the most enjoyed elements of the project.  A new stair was inserted top to bottom within the existing central stair footprint. The walls, once closed and confined, were opened up both internally to the spaces around, and also to the outside, with a two story glass wall facing the garden, bringing news view and needed light deep into the house.

Location:          Golden Valley, MN

Completed:     2012

Project Team:
Ben Awes AIA, Principal-In-Charge
Bob Ganser AIA
Christian Dean AIA

A beautiful, steeply sloped property provides this 1960’s home with wonderful views and secluded privacy.  In addition to their day jobs she is an award winning gardener, and he a self-taught home remodeler.  Over time they have transformed this home into a place of retreat.  However, the home lacked connection to the garden in the rear – their pride and joy.  The final wish for the home was a place to capture the views, bringing the garden inside, and to take advantage of the dramatic height towards the street and the natural pond beyond. 

Entering below, the main floor is one level above, set on grade with the rear garden.  The new level was to be up another floor still.  The program for the space included a spare bedroom, a home office, and the main goal of an entertainment room and rooftop terrace. 

The home already had a strong modern boxy aesthetic and the homeowners hoped to extend and heighten this feel.  The new level pushes this to the limit with crisp white cladding made distinctive with contrasted black reveals, creating a digital high definition image.  In contrast, the garden is referenced in the artificial turf used for the terrace – a remarkably comfortable surface that has proven to be one of the most enjoyed elements of the project.  A new stair was inserted top to bottom within the existing central stair footprint. The walls, once closed and confined, were opened up both internally to the spaces around, and also to the outside, with a two story glass wall facing the garden, bringing news view and needed light deep into the house.

Location:          Golden Valley, MN

Completed:     2012

Project Team:
Ben Awes AIA, Principal-In-Charge
Bob Ganser AIA
Christian Dean AIA