D/O Architecture

A transformative residential project unites two lots into a 3.4-acre landscape that honors the site's natural heritage.

The design includes a new single-family home with detached garage and boathouse, designed by PKA Architects, positioned to minimize environmental impact.

The project restores the site's original glacial landscape by removing formal garden walls and non-native species. The home is situated within 1.2 acres of prairie meadow and a half-acre of upland forest, complemented by 3,200 square feet of green roof. Formal garden areas incorporate native species in a contemporary design.

A comprehensive stormwater management system captures rainfall in natural and formal raingardens before directing it to underground storage for irrigation reuse. The system handles 100-year storm events while improving Lake Minnetonka's water quality. Significant trees are preserved, with necessary removals replaced by native sugar maples, bur oaks, and aspens.

The result is a refined interpretation of the region's natural character—a harmonious balance between luxury living and environmental stewardship that benefits both homeowners and the Minnehaha Creek Watershed community.

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A contemplative sunken space creates visual dialogue between living areas and the lake.

A harmonious balance between

luxury living and environmental stewardship.

Beneath its serene appearance, the undulating lawn works as sophisticated green infrastructure to safeguard water quality.

Sculptural earth mounds echo the region's ancient glacial formations, creating a landscape that speaks to geological memory.

Precision-crafted steel planters rest atop the living roof system, merging industrial elegance with ecological function.

Guests approach the residence alongside a recessed garden space where the interplay of stone, seating, and seasonal redbud blooms offers changing perspectives.

The veranda's strong horizontal presence is balanced by the soft, falling landscape that guides movement and views lakeward.

Granite surfaces unify the swimming pool and surrounding terrace into a cohesive landscape element that traverses the boundary between indoors and out.

A monumental twenty-foot rusticated granite wall rises behind the pool plaza, creating both a dramatic architectural backdrop and essential privacy from the adjacent public park.

In spring, a tapestry of vibrant ajuga blossoms creates a purple-blue groundcover that accentuates the pristine white bark of strategically placed Whitespire birch trees.

The boathouse provides a tranquil vantage point where residents can observe lake activities from a thoughtfully designed shelter adjacent to the ipe wood dock.