Rebirth of a 1920s Minneapolis House
Built in 1927 by the architects Kees & Bowstead, this Italianate villa located in the heart of Minneapolis was so well preserved that originally, the homeowner said she couldn’t imagine renovating. When updates to all of the 1920s systems eventually became a necessity, a meticulous restoration and renovation of the house was undertaken. The program was to maintain the historic character of the house, while removing early renovations and thoughtfully adapting the house to make it suitable for modern living.
One of the most impactful changes was the addition of a skylight above the main stair to bring light to the center of the house. This was achieved by transforming a former sleeping porch into a rooftop solarium with a glass floor, allowing light to fill the staircase.