Living in a glass box

{"version":"0.3.0","atoms":[],"cards":[["images-card",{"images":[{"url":"http:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/dpcbzfiye\/image\/upload\/v1683728460\/iky79hpktj4wzvqoult4.jpg","id":"6625385"}]}]],"markups":[["a",["href","https:\/\/www.charlieandcodesign.com\/","target","_blank"]],["a",["href","https:\/\/www.jkandsons.com\/","target","_blank"]],["b"],["i"],["a",["href","http:\/\/www.Marvin.com\/modern","target","_blank"]],["em"]],"sections":[[1,"h2",[[0,[],0,"Creating a dream lakeside home with wall-to-wall glass and seamless indoor-outdoor connections required Charlie \u0026 Co. Design to solve an architectural riddle. AIA partner Marvin explores the designer\u2019s solutions."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Nestled near the shining waters of Minnesota\u2019s Lake Minnetonka is a home that pushes the boundaries of what design can do \u2014 a quiet, contemplative modern oasis built to soak up the warm golden hour sunshine, reflect the icy brightness of a Midwest winter, and maximize enjoyment and easy living \u2014 all constructed with wall-to-wall glass."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\u201cInspiration was the site itself,\u201d Charlie Simmons, founding principal at "],[0,[0],1,"Charlie \u0026 Co. Design Ltd."],[0,[],0,", said. \u201cIt\u2019s a beautiful piece of property that had never been built on. And it didn\u0027t take very long for us to realize that this was a very, very special place.\u201d"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"But a glass house presents an architectural riddle; glass obviously isn\u2019t designed to hold significant weight, much less that of an entire home, so Simmons had to think outside the box (literally) to bring his clients\u2019 vision to life. And he needed partners who could make the impossible possible, like "],[0,[1],1,"John Kraemer and Sons Custom Builders"],[0,[],0,". Together, they stripped the project down to basics, knowing that the clients wanted a \u201cvery simple, modern design\u201d for optimal versatility, one they could use seamlessly while entertaining friends and for day-to-day family life. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"What was Simmons\u2019 approach? \u201cThe idea was to not only keep the architecture simple, but the material palette, as well,\u201d he said. \u201cSo we\u0027ve got steel and glass, which really is most of the material on the entire project.\u201d "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The amount of glass was unprecedented, with three sets of 20-foot-tall doors \u2014 stretching 60 feet wide \u2014 with only 4 inches of steel structure in between for uncompromised views and flawless flow between indoor and outdoor spaces. Additionally, strategic elements like a stone fireplace and a \u201cbox within a box\u201d pod of rooms ensured the house was not only functional and beautiful, but structurally sound too. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\u201cYou can see from the front yard all the way through the backyard; it\u0027s literally like living in a glass box,\u201d Kraemer said. \u201cAnd when you sit in this space, it just makes you feel good. You feel healthy, taking in the views in the natural light.\u201d"]]],[1,"p",[]],[10,0],[1,"h3",[[0,[2],1,"A delicate balancing act"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"While stunning, a home largely constructed from glass creates an inherent challenge: privacy. To solve it, Simmons and Kramer took inspiration from its natural setting. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"First, the home\u2019s large parcel of land provided a good starting point with an abundance of tall trees as well as a lush, sloped yard that leads down to the lake. Additional trees were planted near the home to round out the coverage of foliage. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Next, the team applied a wood cladding made from Accoya, a softwood similar to cedar, to effortlessly blend the home with its natural environment. Finally, Simmons and the team explored different levels of transparency, such as \u201cthe trellis and purlins on the skylight, and the vertical lattice work covering the floor-to-ceiling windows by the stairs heading to the lower level, which echoes the nearby towering lodge pole pines.\u201d Simmons said."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The result? A stunning private oasis to be used all year, with the sharp, clean lines of a modern design, lake views, and luxurious amenities."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\u201cWhat\u2019s really remarkable about this home, from my perspective, is just how unique it is,\u201d John Kraemer said. \u201cWe build homes of all shapes, sizes, and styles, and what I thought was so cool about this house was just how much glass there is.\u201d"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[3],0,"For details on the Marvin Modern windows and doors, the line used to help achieve Simmons\u2019 vision, visit "],[0,[4],1,"Marvin.com\/modern"],[0,[],1,"."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[5],1,"AIA does not sponsor or endorse any enterprise, whether public or private, operated for profit. Further, no AIA officer, director, committee member, or employee, or any of its component organizations in his or her official capacity, is permitted to approve, sponsor, endorse, or do anything that may be deemed or construed to be an approval, sponsorship, or endorsement of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product."]]]]}