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A Minnesota Light Box Counters Winter Blues

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This simple, straightforward house is as open and airy as a loft space. It is perfectly designed to counter the effect of living in Minnesota, which can be dark and dreary through the winter months. But Julie Snow Architects in Minneapolis has risen to the challenge.

The clients for this small residence on a corner lot in Minneapolis were previous loft-dwellers. With their gigantic windows and light-filled spaces, lofts – empty warehouses converted for living space – can spoil you for house living.

The concrete perimeter wall has a cast-in-place concrete finish both inside and out. This wall type is commonly used to create cast-in-place foundations but is rarely used as a finished wall system.

A 4” core of insulation in the concrete, helps the occupants survive Minnesota winters. Cladding the second floor, Brazilian walnut provides a contrast with the concrete.

In plan, you can see how simple and clean the design is. In practice, just as much.

Via Arch Daily