MJL Photo
Inspiration for a large contemporary backyard deck remodel in DC Metro with a roof extension

A light filled modern kitchen.
Example of a large trendy l-shaped light wood floor and yellow floor kitchen design in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble countertops, red backsplash, marble backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

The home is positioned to maximize Lake views.
Family room - large modern family room idea

Front of Home, Large Windows look out towards one of Minneapolis's best urban Lakes
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern gray three-story mixed siding and clapboard exterior home remodel in Minneapolis with a shingle roof and a black roof

Walk-in closet - contemporary gender-neutral light wood floor and beige floor walk-in closet idea in Dallas with open cabinets

Front of Home, A clean white and wood box organizes the main level the home.
Example of a large minimalist black three-story mixed siding and clapboard house exterior design with a shed roof, a mixed material roof and a black roof

Front of Home, Large Windows look out towards one of Minneapolis's best urban Lakes
Example of a mid-sized minimalist gray three-story mixed siding and clapboard exterior home design in Minneapolis with a shingle roof and a black roof

Hallway - tropical hallway idea in Hawaii

Studio 13
Farmhouse exterior home photo in Indianapolis

Modern Kitchen bookending the main level living space.
Kitchen - mid-sized modern kitchen idea in Minneapolis

Vaulted Ceilings connect the main Living nad Dining spaces of the home
Large minimalist family room photo

Nestled into a steep hill on an urban-sized lot, N44° 58' 34" is a creative response to a set of unique site conditions. The house is terraced up the hill, providing multiple connections to the large urban lot. This allows the main living spaces to wrap around the greenspace, providing numerous visual and physical relationships to the backyard. With a direct connection to the largest public park in Minneapolis, the backyard transforms seasonally to support the families active, outdoor lifestyle. A grand, central staircase functions as a statement of modern design while windows simultaneously flood all three levels with light. The towering stair is framed by two distinct wings of the home, creating secluded, yet connected moments on each level.

N44° 56' 06" is a minimal and modern home centered around views and access to Bde Maka Ska (former Lake Calhoun). Carved into the lot, a tuck under garage provides storage for vehicles and lake toys while preserving the front of the home for an elevated porch with lake views. A rear patio and rooftop deck offer entertainment space with scenes of the Minneapolis skyline and the lake as a backdrop. Custom metal louvers accent the front and rear of the home acting as window privacy buffers and a staircase to the roof deck. The forms and materials remain modest to let the crisp lines compose balance between the modern structure and the exterior accents.

N44° 56' 06" is a minimal and modern home centered around views and access to Bde Maka Ska (former Lake Calhoun). Carved into the lot, a tuck under garage provides storage for vehicles and lake toys while preserving the front of the home for an elevated porch with lake views. A rear patio and rooftop deck offer entertainment space with scenes of the Minneapolis skyline and the lake as a backdrop. Custom metal louvers accent the front and rear of the home acting as window privacy buffers and a staircase to the roof deck. The forms and materials remain modest to let the crisp lines compose balance between the modern structure and the exterior accents.

The original house was built as a kit on the coast. The potential view was spectacular but the existing house suffered from a deep sense of tunnel vision and the interior was a maze of disconnected spaces. By changing the location of the kitchen to a more commanding location and unfolding the spaces into a more logical flow the house not only captures the panoramic view but feels twice as big without adding one square foot to the building footprint. Small changes in the deck sizes with some sweeping curves and more logical exterior stair locations connect the interior with the surrounding natural landscape. An “away” space, affectionately called the Quiet Room, is crowned with a sculptural plaster ceiling that evokes a wave, or a shell, or a soft sky canopy floating above this unusual living area. Outdoors is an infinity edge spa overlooking Gloucester’s Eastern Point Lighthouse and the ocean beyond.

N44° 56' 06" is a minimal and modern home centered around views and access to Bde Maka Ska (former Lake Calhoun). Carved into the lot, a tuck under garage provides storage for vehicles and lake toys while preserving the front of the home for an elevated porch with lake views. A rear patio and rooftop deck offer entertainment space with scenes of the Minneapolis skyline and the lake as a backdrop. Custom metal louvers accent the front and rear of the home acting as window privacy buffers and a staircase to the roof deck. The forms and materials remain modest to let the crisp lines compose balance between the modern structure and the exterior accents.

Malibu Glass Box House by Klopf Architecture Following the devastating Woolsey Fire of 2018, the site in Malibu offered a unique opportunity to rebuild not just a home, but a new architectural composition that highlighted the property’s potential while navigating strict fire-rebuild codes in the area. Designed by Klopf Architecture, this project embraced a set of limitations and translated them into an architectural asset. The city’s fire-rebuild process required the new structure to remain close to the original footprint, size and bulk, a constraint that ultimately clarified the architectural direction. Perched near the front of a long, narrow lot, the new home frames and overlooks a private, park-like rear expanse, an uncommon luxury especially in this part of Malibu . Without a fixed program, the design process allowed for a different kind of creative focus allowing Klopf Architecture the opportunity to explore how a modernist home could best respond to this site. The team approached the project not with a list of requirements, but with a question: How might a modernist live here? What spatial qualities would inspire calm, connection, and a sense of wonder in this setting? The process became less about problem-solving and more about architectural storytelling—letting the site, the light, and the principles of modern design guide the form and flow of the home. The response emerged in the form of a glass-box pavilion, an open, Mid-Century Modern inspired living, dining, and kitchen space that floats at the edge of the property’s natural descent. Connected to the more enclosed, private areas of the home by a glass-walled hallway, the living pavilion becomes a distinct centerpiece of the design. It opens on all four sides to the landscape with decks and patios on the flanks, an internal garden and water feature to the north, and a dramatic unguarded view of the expansive backyard and ocean horizon to the south. Because of the mandated footprint, careful planning was required to ensure every space could still engage with light, landscape, or both. Strategic voids in the form of atriums and courtyards allow daylight to filter deep into the home’s core, while offering moments of surprise and retreat. These design gestures allow natural light to filter deep into the interior, creating a sense of brightness and openness throughout the day. At the same time, they expand the perceptual boundaries between inside and out, making the home feel more expansive while anchoring its connection to the surrounding landscape. The siting of the house is what gives it its unique character. Rather than receding into the backyard like the neighboring homes, the house holds a slight prominence. From the central living pavilion, stepping down into the landscape feels more like entering a secluded park where a separate existing accessory structure, trail, and recreational areas await. The home’s modest street presence gives way to this unfolding drama of space, view, and nature. Fire-resilient materials and assemblies are integrated seamlessly throughout including triple-pane glazing, under-slab and roof insulation, and locally sourced fire-rated cladding ensure the house not only meets Calfornia’s rigorous wildland-urban interface (WUI) standards, but feels effortlessly aligned with them. While technical decisions like fire-hardening and mechanical systems presented some construction challenges, particularly around the cantilevered glass box, the team found a functional compromise that preserved the integrity of the design. Inside, a restrained palette and exposed post and beam design celebrate the ethos of mid-century modernism. A central circulation spine extends from the entry to the rear glass wall, offering a continuous visual link from street to ocean. Spaces such as the library and office, though more intimate in scale, are never cut off from nature as each opens to its own unique courtyard or garden view. Though born out of a strict regulatory framework and developed without a specific client, the rebuild design unfolded with remarkable clarity. Grounded in site logic, refined by limitations and an emphasis on timeless spatial relationships – light, proportion, and a strong connection to nature, the resulting design feels both effortless and uplifting. The home lives lightly on the land, opens generously to its surroundings, and strikes a careful balance between privacy, openness, and calm. For Klopf Architecture, it stands as a compelling case study in how site, code, and circumstantial constraints can inspire enduring, modernist architecture. With years of experience reimagining mid-century modern design for how people live today, the firm took the project’s limitations as an opportunity. The result is a home shaped by open, flowing spaces, strong indoor-outdoor connections, and a calm, clear sense of structure. It’s a good reminder that even with strict constraints, there’s still room for architecture to breathe—and for modernism to keep moving forward. Klopf Architecture project team: Geoff Campen, John Klopf, AIA, and Sherry Tan Structural Engineer: ZFA Contractor: Maison D’Artiste Photography: ©2025 Mariko Reed Year Completed: 2023

N44° 56' 06" is a minimal and modern home centered around views and access to Bde Maka Ska (former Lake Calhoun). Carved into the lot, a tuck under garage provides storage for vehicles and lake toys while preserving the front of the home for an elevated porch with lake views. A rear patio and rooftop deck offer entertainment space with scenes of the Minneapolis skyline and the lake as a backdrop. Custom metal louvers accent the front and rear of the home acting as window privacy buffers and a staircase to the roof deck. The forms and materials remain modest to let the crisp lines compose balance between the modern structure and the exterior accents.

N44° 56' 06" is a minimal and modern home centered around views and access to Bde Maka Ska (former Lake Calhoun). Carved into the lot, a tuck under garage provides storage for vehicles and lake toys while preserving the front of the home for an elevated porch with lake views. A rear patio and rooftop deck offer entertainment space with scenes of the Minneapolis skyline and the lake as a backdrop. Custom metal louvers accent the front and rear of the home acting as window privacy buffers and a staircase to the roof deck. The forms and materials remain modest to let the crisp lines compose balance between the modern structure and the exterior accents.