5152 Schaefer Road
Minneapolis, MN, USA

5152 Schaefer Road, Minneapolis, MN, USA

Tom Meyer, the recipient of the AIA Minnesota Architect of Distinction in 2007, led a team of creative individuals. He is also renowned for designing the Mill City Museum, which received the AIA National Honor Award in 2005, as well as the Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center for the University of Minnesota Bee Lab. Meyer is a founding member of MSR Design (Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle, Ltd.) based in Minneapolis. Herb Baldwin, one of the co-founders of the University of Minnesota's School of Landscape Architecture, played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape, while Lynn Barnhouse contributed to the interior design. Meyer and Barnhouse also collaborated on The Herman Miller Design Yard in Holland, Michigan, designed by MSR Design, which earned the AIA Minnesota 25 Year Award in 2017. This prestigious accolade annually recognizes an outstanding architectural project that withstands the test of time.

The inspiration behind this residence is to create a serene and inviting family home with the ambiance of a getaway cabin, particularly evident in the kitchen area, while harmonizing with its natural surroundings. Aesthetic influences stem from Mid-Century Modern and Japanese design principles, as well as elements inspired by the Maine Coast, such as water, rocks, and lighthouses. Interestingly, the vision also reflects the principles of the Prairie School movement in architecture, an organic approach characterized by "harmony with humanity and the environment," championed by the visionary Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959), who the American Institute of Architects hailed as the "greatest American architect of all time."

Wright's architectural philosophy drew from a trifecta of influences: his formative years in Wisconsin playing with Froebel Blocks, his apprenticeship under architect Louis Sullivan in Chicago, and exposure to Japanese Woodblock prints. The combination and culmination of these design principles in residential architecture, with an increasing incorporation of Japanese aesthetics, rapidly spread across the Midwest and eventually influenced modern architecture worldwide. The Prairie School of architecture derived its name from its dominant horizontal lines, mirroring the wide, flat expanses of the native prairie landscapes in the United States. Within this genre and specifically at 5152 Schaefer Road, various applications include simplified interlocking forms, open and flowing interior spaces, seamless integration between the indoors and outdoors, the harmonious union of organic forms and functionality within the environment, and a deep reverence for nature while integrating its materials with superior craftsmanship evident in every detail.

The well-structured L-shaped residence embraces a pond, seamlessly blending the topography with adjacent spaces and creating a descending flow into the barrel-vaulted living room. The highly functional and cozy domestic areas, featuring varying ceiling heights, natural woods, stone, metal materials, and textures, give rise to unique and airy rooms. The kitchen counter extends outdoors to provide additional counter space, the interior structural beams transform into pergola beams on the exterior, and walls of windows offer breathtaking 360-degree views, immersing the occupants in the landscape and providing shelter while remaining connected to all seasons.

Retreating from the primary gathering and entertaining areas offers sanctuary within three ensuite bedrooms on the second level, while a nanny suite/exercise area occupies the lower level. The main level Owners' suite, located at the opposite end of the home, opens up to expansive granite terracing, a heated pool, a gazebo, and an adjacent pergola. Situated in an exceptional and private location, surrounded by tranquil woods and a large pond, this award-winning architectural masterpiece, accessible via a private and winding drive, is the result of collaborative efforts from multiple talented individuals in the Twin Cities. Honored with an AIA Minnesota Honor Award for Residence in 1993, this expansive home and its vast grounds epitomize the harmonious integration