Build ‘just enough’ was an important attitude in the design and construction of this compact modern home located adjacent to a city park in Edina. Planning towards a compact and efficient ‘footprint’ was an overarching concern both from a construction budget and site concern, as the soil conditions at this site required an extensive foundation piling system. The compact yet open plan on the main level ‘lives large’ between two room sized openings on either end of the house opening up to an extended view out the front afforded by the park across the street and an outdoor back deck framed by the mudroom and a site wall.
The small ‘footprint’ is also countered with strategic cantilevered ‘bays’ to provide space for storage, cabinets and other ‘built-ins’ again to get the most openness within a compact main level. The extended bays, from a construction efficiency point of view, provide ‘piling’ free floor area.
The second floor and extended bays are clad in a marine grade plywood rainscreen countering the rough site cast concrete main level.