Pine Pointe is a 78-acre site overlooking Burntside Lake developed by Camp du Nord of the YMCA of Greater St. Paul as a family oriented camping facility in a wilderness setting. The site consists of steeply varied topography with rock outcroppings, and a mature coniferous/hardwood forest.  The architecture has a log type, similar to historic  rustic north woods architecture, with colors and materials derived from the surrounding ecology.  Central common spaces are located on the "Acropolis," with a cluster of cabins were designed, to uniquely address family recreational needs and opportunities of this unique location.

This project consists of a 22 double-unit cluster of townhomes nestled between the fairways of the Wedgewood Valley Golf Course in Woodbury, Minnesota. The architecture of the townhomes follows the golf clubhouse character and based on English country cottages.  The homes are designed and marketed toward empty-nesters. A variety of two and three bedrooms are provided with each home having windows on three sides.

Starting with a simple two-story 1980 suburban home situated on a 1.5 acre site surrounded on three sides by a 200-acre nature center preserve, the complex has evolved through a series of construction projects into an ensemble of interrelated elements amongst prairie grasses and wildflowers. The ensemble is organized around a mowed grass clearing and surrounded by trees on all sides. Called Wildflower, the home consists of the original main house with a three story studio addition connected by a skyway. A curving pergola extends from the house to a swimming pool. The recently completed Wildflower Playhouse serves as a focal point for five granddaughters when they come to visit their grandparents.

The drawing is by 6-year-old Callie Abraham.

Designed for a family of four who had lived in Europe and Japan with an extensive art and furniture collection, the prairie school house is similar to a twelve-foot square like a Japanese garden pavilion. The house fits between three ancient black oak trees and overlooks Gleason Lake. The top floor contains a tatami room for guests and parties.

Constructed to reflect the site and scale of the existing neighborhood, the 43 units on 2 1/2 acres have a very urban quality, with an internal alley providing access to unit garages.  The units are 3-4 stories with wood siding and asphalt shingle roofs, over a rock face concrete block base.

These homes reflect our interest in rural architecture and include new construction, additions and remodeling:

1) a farmhouse retreat in northern Minnesota with construction on all four sides and reconstruction of the second floor with a new roof and dormers – all befitting the character of the original built by a Norwegian immigrant farmer in 1920; 

2) a new farmhouse with veranda in Delano, MN on a farmstead replaces the existing house that will be demolished when the new one is completed; and

3) an addition to a summer cottage in Upper Michigan overlooking Lake Michigan. 

Other projects include a log cabin vacation house in northern Wisconsin; a renovated sustainable energy efficient home on a hill side in Duluth, MN overlooking Lake Superior; and restoration of a historic farmhouse in Edina, MN.

These homes all use light, materials, form, and space to connect to the unique characteristics of the land fulfilling their owner’s need for shelter and inspiration while preserving the natural and historic landscapes of the site.