Throughout the seasons, but especially in winter, we think the HH residence punts the blaaahhh down the block with bright, blue tones – stepping outside of the typical winter color palette, but not overstepping. The contrast is simultaneously complimentary and its neighbors tend to agree: the Locus designed renovation recently won the 2013 Eco B.L.E.N.D. award for striking a balance between blending into the neighborhood and providing a unique identity within the area (as well as being designed and built in an ecologically sound manner).

The home will be featured in the Star Tribune this Sunday. More from the owners’ perspective will be described in the article as well as a few thoughts from us. What’s your color?

“We want an efficient, colorful, and sustainable house for us and our cats…We’ve been thinking about expanding, but don’t have much room in back. We don’t really need much space, but we do want it customized for us in detail.”

Our subsequent collaboration added 240 square feet to the existing footprint of 625, focusing on the objective of providing more daylight to the interior without sacrificing privacy in the narrow 1,700 square foot home. The front of the home retained its scale, shape, porch, and window sizes, while the side gables grew slightly. The two sides were redesigned with new window locations, derived solely from the functions – showering, reading, sleeping, eating – taking place behind them. The rear facade’s asymmetric gable provides a small sun spot for lounging cats off the master bedroom. The bold colors on the narrow lap and shake siding were chosen by the homeowners to provide a striking contrast to the black, brown, and white landscape we Minnesotans share six months of the year.

Inside, the client asked us for efficient spaces which could fulfill two or three functions. We created an open plan for the first floor and the public functions of the house. Upstairs, a home office and library can be opened to one another or separated by a sliding bookcase, transforming library into guest room. The master suite occupies the remaining second floor space. Small sun-spaces on both levels create nooks for the cats and the owner’s orchids.

Unique details from the homeowners drove the design. The master shower was designed around a motion-activated drinking fountain mounted low on the wall for the felines. We used a bookcase to make the sliding divider upstairs as we needed space somewhere for the owners’ large collection of science fiction books. Blown-glass light fixtures were commissioned and paint choices selected to color match particular pieces of art within the client’s collection. Finally, we designed a litter box with motion-activated ventilation, lighting, and dual access – one entry for cats at floor level in the kitchen and another more ergonomic access two steps down in the mudroom.

They asked us to consider sustainability as well. Geothermal heating and cooling is provided via three vertical wells and a heat pump. Blown foam insulates new walls to R-33 and existing to R-21. The roof was insulated to R-50 and pitched to accept future photovoltaic panels.

A big thanks to the homeowners for sharing their story, Katie Rose Construction for an excellent job with the remodel and the Award’s contributors – Jurors, staff, partners and sponsors.

Good Real Food has been brought to you by the Birchwood Cafe for eighteen years! Reflecting on that anniversary alone is cause for celebration, but we hope you join us at the birthday party to also look forward as the restaurant prepares for a renovation and expansion.

It’s grow time!

Locus is happy to have a hand envisioning the new space – if you haven’t seen the design, there’s no time like this Sunday. Visit the Birchwood blog and this Heavy Table article for more details about the event and how you can contribute to the Birchwood’s growth.

Go off grid with Locus today at noon in the Eco Experience building at the MN State Fair! The sustainability stage hosts Locus with clients Mike and Linda to tell the story of their recently completed house: The Home The Land Built.

Not at the fair today? Check out the following stories online:

Michael’s blog about moving to The Land and Building

Star Tribune article: “Solar Powered House Shines on the Prairie”

Renewable Energy World

Recently, one of our California clients sent us a couple snapshots of a project just finishing up construction (these are the before shots). It made me think of something we sometimes tell clients wary of building something very specific to them. “Nobody is that unusual.” Just because you want a recording studio in the basement, a light fixture that can be relocated on a whim, a bookshelf designed for your cats, or a kitchen sink large enough to wash a black lab, doesn’t mean you won’t be able to sell your house someday.

Nonetheless, some projects grab your attention. This family approached us to redesign the kitchen in the family home. Family meaning “all twelve of us kids.” (Got our attention.) These twelve, now grown adults, get together “with our mother, spouses, kids, and grandkids at least three or four times a year to make, bake, prepare, and eat a holiday meal. There’s sometimes over forty of us.” (Still listening!) She gestured to a cramped kitchen. (Well loved.) “Also, most of us live close by. Anybody is free to use the kitchen and swimming pool at any time (very, um, spontaneous), so it’s got to hold up to a lot of use, but I also want it to be efficient when just I’m here with my mother.”

“The peninsula is critical to get right; it’s where we make and pour drinks at our gatherings. It’s always crowded, there’s not enough seating, and it’s where people come in the door, where they walk to the living room, and where people come in and out of the kitchen. It’s right in the middle of everything and my brothers are always there!”

We thought we’d share her snapshots, the kitchen (we think) turned out just the way she’d hoped. We eliminated an unused door in the kitchen (got rid of some unwanted circulation), added another in an adjacent library (created more flow), and cleaned up the ceiling by burying a header and removing a hanging cabinet (eliminated clutter). We moved the bar peninsula to the kitchen side of the dining room to redirect circulation, facilitate prepping food and drinks, and add seating (away from kitchen flow) where people can hang out, prep food and cocktails, or just eat a bowl of cereal and look out the window.

This Sacramento Valley home may get more LOCUS tweaks in future years. We’ve talked about the possibility of a private apartment as an addition to the north bedroom wing as well as a free standing house next door with a space for chamber music concerts. Perhaps a recording studio someday for one of the grandchildren?

A terrific team of collaborators kicked off opening day at Sandcastle yesterday. Locus was happy to be there alongside the owners and staff, The Big Room, neighbors, and representatives from the Minneapolis Park Board, Venture Bank and several other organizations who helped revitalize the concession stand after sitting vacant for nearly a decade.

Doug Flicker making the official cut! (Chopping skills pay off even outside the kitchen).

The Big Locus (a.k.a TBL…that’s BLT backwards) alongside The Big Room Wrap. An excellent combo.

Things are warming up on Lake Nokomis and it looks like the gents at The Big Room will have the renovation ready in time for real swimming weather!

Check out the updated menu … What could be better than a BLT after a dip in the lake? How about a TBL? That’s The Big Locus – we can’t wait!

Donning tyvek suits, respirators, and vinyl gloves, the Locus team took on an other-worldly appearance to begin the fiberglass process earlier this week.

Layer 1 was gel-coat, tinted light red, and rolled right over the wax-soaked form (once the fiberglass is popped off of the form, this initial coat will comprise the finished, smooth surface of the gravity well).

After a 24 hour drying period breathing fresh, 70 degree air, the marshmallowy aliens were back at it. This time getting delving into the nitty gritty of the fiberglass mesh – ripping it up then coating the patches over the form with resin.

The chemical reaction between the two transformed the relatively planar sheets of mesh into semi-liquid, maleable mush that conformed seamlessly to the form’s complex curve. A bit more drying time and the funnel will be popped off!

Fear not – the window for placing your food order at Sandcastle will be much larger than portrayed in the above photo! The sheathing has battened down the hatches from today’s rain – snow mix and a few spots of fenestration are starting to appear.

Lots of reinforcing has occurred inside to straighten up the super sagging, original concession building designed by Downs & Eads in 1927. The architecture office designed several buildings throughout Minneapolis, including the Linden Hills fire station (home to The Harriet Brasserie) and its neighboring building (home to Wild Rumpus).

In case you missed it, Sandcastle is the up and coming restaurant co-created by chef Doug Flicker (from Piccolo) for the Lake Nokomis concession building. Sandcastle’s Co-owner / Project Manager, Amy Greeley, stopped by Locus last week to review samples of the building’s new material palette – brilliantly bright with colors derived from the logo. Meanwhile construction is in full swing under the guidance of The Big Room.

Check out Sandcastle’s homepage for further insight into the new restaurant and stay tuned for more updates as the building progresses.

Feel free to caress it, and other art holes, this summer at the Walker Sculpture Garden!

We’ve had our hands on a lot of materials over the last 2 decades (from custom, concrete countertops to everything that goes into making a residence), but never fiberglass resin. Admittedly wandering into unchartered territory, local artist Aaron Dysart was kind enough to share his insights with us.

Assuming the forecast stays snow-free, the nearly complete, Devil’s Tower-esque base will soon be layered up with fiberglass thanks to further tips and materials from Tomas Grim at Express Composites.

Thanks to everyone who came out Saturday night to 2×2 no. 6! There were lots of great ideas on how your investment dollar can yield more than just financial return.

From socially responsible to environmentally progressive, Kelly Guncheon pointed out that there are over 200 mutual funds for responsible investing, either for general investment or for retirement plans. If you are a Hennepin County Library cardholder, you can research these funds to learn more about their holdings on the Morningstar Investment Research Center link. Use it to also investigate your current funds’ holdings. You might be surprised by what you find out.

Anna Forsberg introduced us to Kiva, a well established non-profit group that takes contributions as small as $25 and invests in entrepreneurs throughout the world (via local financial institutions). This video explains the process more thoroughly. While there is no financial return to the lender, Kiva is a great way to see your dollars in action and once the loan is repaid, you can either choose to withdraw what you invested or reinvest in another project.

Kiva recently began piloting a new program for person-to-person lending (taking out the financial institution part) called Kiva Zip. With the support of 2×2 attendees, we were able to collect $225 which will be invested in Kiva Zip start ups (and will continue to be re-invested as the loans are repaid)! There are currently Kiva Zip opportunities in Kenya and the U.S. (3 in MN with more to come soon). Stay tuned to see who the attendees choose as their borrower(s)!

Several times per year, Locus hosts a series of free talks on creativity and collaboration, titled 2×2. In an informal presentation setting, two influential locals reveal their passions and challenges in life, art and business. From organic farming to cutting edge music to life-changing dreams, a pair of presenters discuss common themes that shape their work and influence those around them.

2×2 #6: Responsible Investing pairs values-based, financial planner, Kelly Guncheon with Kiva fellow, Anna Forsberg. Mr. Guncheon is the head of the local financial firm, Guncheon Financial and will address socially and environmentally responsible investing. Mrs. Forsberg has experience working with Kiva in Africa and is currently working with the non-profit in Minnesota. She will be speaking about micro financing (worldwide as well as Minnesota-specific). Together, their presentation will offer inspiration for conscientious investment strategies – considering value beyond the bottom line. The presentation will be followed by a Question/Answer session amidst refreshments.

RSVPs are greatly appreciated as seating is limited (email: wynne@locusarchitecture.com).

The next layer of plaster is on thanks to our in-office-fabricated, curved screed board (seen above swiveling from the center of the formwork). Some cracking developed as it dried, but another round of joint compound should smooth things over…to be continued.

Smoothing things over with the second coat of Durabond’s “setting-type” joint compound. The next layer of plaster will be the more conventional, all-purpose joint compound (there’s about an 1/8th of an inch gap for the third coat to fill). The wooden screed (shown above), will then rotate about the center axis to form an even smoother surface.

Gopher hole was recently named one of about a dozen winning designs to be constructed this summer at the Walker Art Center’s Sculpture Garden. This is the 3rd year they’ve teamed up with MNArtists.org. and this summer’s course should be epic as it coincides with the Sculpture Garden’s 25th anniversary.

The construction of Gopher Hole is well under way with the gravity well (the red funnel in the above picture) formwork nearly complete. Stay tuned for more images as the fiberglass goes on the form and the rest of the structure takes shape.

No, that’s not a UFO, replica of Devil’s Tower, or a 1980’s cable TV satellite dish… All of the “fins” are in place and getting screened over for the gravity well formwork. Stay tuned for the plaster base coat.

If you are out braving the spring-turned-winter-wonderland, stop by our office (turned construction site) and imagine warmer days ahead. Gopher Hole is well under way and will be a part of the Walker Art Center’s mini golf course opening late May … hopefully sans snow.

The first undertaking is to build a gravity well – the formwork pictured above will be coated in plaster to make a smooth mold, which will eventually be covered in fiberglass.

The first coat of plaster is on the 6 foot diameter frame! A couple fans are speed-drying it before the second coat is applied. For those following the more technical aspects, this base layer is Durabond’s “setting-type” joint compound, which is better suited for “heavy fills” (not the finish compound typically sold in 5 gallon buckets).

If you’ve ever listened to MPR’s Climate Cast on Thursday mornings, you’ve likely heard about our increasingly changing weather. Climate Refugees is a documentary that takes another look these conditions and the disastrous effects they are having on people throughout othe world.

The film will be shown at Lake Harriet Spiritual Community (4401 Upton Ave. S.) on April 25th at 6:30 p.m. A panel discussion will follow, offering solutions to climate change that Minnesotans can act upon.

The event is hosted by the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society a neighboring non-profit that advocates for renewable energy and educates citizens about solar in Minnesota (they also recently co-hosted our Off Grid Presentation at REI). Join us by bike – we’ll be pedaling over around 6!

“Going off grid drove all the behavior we wanted to do anyway” said Mike Larsen in regards to living in a net zero home designed by Locus.

If you missed last night’s presentation at Midwest Mountaineering, check out this Star Tribune article for a bit of the background story.

The clients and Locus will be joined by the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society to present again Wednesday, April 3 at 7 p.m. at REI Bloomington. Birchwood Cafe will be there too…with snacks!

Stay tuned for a synopsis of the presentation on the Locus website.

Do our personal financial investments have responsibilities beyond ourselves? How can we ethically integrate financial, social, and personal investment, in a more meaningful manner?

Find out at 2X2 no. 6, Saturday, April 20th. Presentation at 7:30. 708 W. 40th St.

In two hours, you’ll be better educated, inspired, buoyant, and have spent way less than you lost on your Apple stock last quarter.

Pick up the new issue of Momentum Magazine and you’ll find the latest styles in cycling gear, family-friendly riding ideas, bike share programs across the world, and the growing trend of Open Streets. On page 28, you’ll also gain insight into Locus’ love affair with two-wheel travel, which is not just about minimizing our carbon footprint or sneaking in a wee work-out before sitting in an office chair for the day.

Bicycling is something we include in our daily routine as life-style and office-style – incorporating a pedestrian friendly approach to design that includes multi-modal transit throughout the Twin Cities. Embracing the bike in our work is one of many ways we think globally, act locally and create artfully. From the scale of a religious assembly hall to this completely off-the-grid home, we believe to achieve true sustainability one must walk the walk and talk the talk in all facets of life.

Such an approach fosters healthy, city living for everyone (even if you aren’t on a bike) – something that’s better for all of our brains, bodies and businesses. We’re honored to have the likes of Birchwood, One on One, Artcrank, Full-Cycle, and Lebanon Hills Regional Park pedaling with us on this front.

To read more about these relationships, stop by Calhoun Cycle, Birchwood Cafe or One on One Bicycle Studio to grab a copy of the April/May issue.

Thanks to Stephen Irving for writing the piece and again to John Haynes for shooting the team at a Locus designed, Minneapolis residence; here’s a shot that didn’t appear in the magazine:

Want to know how to integrate rain water collection, solar energy, photovoltaic electricity, passive heating and ventilation, a masonry heater, a root cellar and a composting toilet in a year-round home on a modest budget?

Join us at Midwest Mountaineering on March 28th (7 p.m.) to learn how a Minnesota couple, collaborating with Locus Architecture, created an off-the-grid home in Winona County and strengthened their connection to the land they love.