Wayzata, Minnesota, the land of 10,000 lakes, is located just west of Minneapolis and is known for its Midwestern charm, rustic architecture, and, of course, lakefront homes.
When a local client turned to Minnesota-based PKA Architecture, he envisioned a minimalist, modern home that would be suitable for multiple generations, including grown children and grandchildren. The property is located on the shores of Lake Minnetonka, and is a large piece of land with towering trees and expansive lawn spaces.
“The client had always lived in traditional homes and wanted something modern,” says Chad Healy, design director and project manager at PKA Architecture. “We worked to develop a concept that faithfully replicated their original idea of having a sunken courtyard in the center of the house. From the street it looks like a one-story house, but from the lake and has a very strong presence, especially in relation to the typical traditional houses on the lake.”
The sunken garden offers views of the lake through the full glass of the home.
paul crosby
Healy and Kristin Anderson, managing principal and designer at PKA Architecture, completed the project in 2019. The seven-bedroom, nine-bathroom home blends natural landscaping with modern design. The exterior is finished with Equitone fiber cement panels and the base is made of dark Herkimer stone. Because it is built on a slope, it looks like a one-story house from the road, but from the lake you can see a two-story house. Yet the house cleverly blends into the natural curves of the land. Almost every room has floor-to-ceiling windows, making the house glow at night thanks to the light that filters through the glass.
The company chose luxurious, modern materials and finishes, including white oak floors, dark Venetian plaster in the powder room, large-format porcelain tile on the lower level, white oak cabinetry, and blackened steel details. Skylights are another design element incorporated to adjust the volume of a particular space. For example, the powder room features dark plaster walls and a ceiling with a single-slot skylight above it. The mirror behind the freestanding sink extends from the floor to the skylight, reflecting the sky and blurring the line between indoors and sky. There is also a skylight along the main level entrance walk that connects the indoors with the outdoors.
Floor-to-ceiling glass connects the open-plan living, kitchen and dining spaces with the outdoor area.
paul crosby
The main level has two bedrooms and an open plan common area. The light-filled kitchen, dining room, living area and separate office open onto a large partially covered terrace through floor-to-ceiling glass doors. No matter the season, you'll always have a front row view of the lake. The company also installed dynamic/operable louvers that slide and rotate along the lakeside home. These black louvres not only shade certain parts of many rooms and provide beautiful dappled sunlight when the sun is shining, but they also add a decorative element to the look.
“We worked with Turner Exhibits, which specializes in kinetic architecture and habitable objects,” says Healy. “Some of these panels rotate, so you can decide how much light gets into each room or how much privacy you want. also collaborated. Our client is an engineer, so Turner left the gears, levers, and engineering elements exposed on the inside of the front door, which looks really cool. It's a very intricate piece of work, and it's a great addition to the home. It serves as a powerful entry point.”
Every room has a picture-perfect view of the lake. The living room features a massive Herkimer stone fireplace with an asymmetrical steel and wood incorporation that extends beyond the stone and cantilevers to the floor. The house descends to a sunken courtyard that leads to the lower level of the property. From here, there is a glass-enclosed living area that opens out to the sunken courtyard and onto the lake. The lower level also has additional bedrooms, a children's play area, bar and a half-court indoor sports court.
Herkimer stone fireplace in the living room.
paul crosby
Energy efficiency was important to both architect and client. They installed external insulation, triple-glazed windows, and a water storage tank to collect water from the courtyard and roof, which is used for on-site irrigation. “We know it’s a big house, but we tried to put in as much as possible to make it as sustainable and long-lasting as possible,” says Healy.
One side of the home features a large pool, covered patio, and pool deck. There is a spacious lawn between it and the lake, with plenty of distance between the house and the water. Near the water's edge is an ultra-modern boathouse with a fireplace, covered seating area, and a private dock on the water perfect for summer boating.
Click here to see more photos of Lake Minnetonka Residences.
