Project: Stack House / Inspiring Custom Home
Architects: Lazor Office
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Size 3,550 sq. feet
Photography: Peter VonDeLinde
The geometric forms of this house generate places to withdraw, while still giving the homeowners views of a nearby towering oak and of one of Minneapolis’ numerous lakes. Local architect Charlie Lazor of Lazor Office envisioned this inspiring custom home as a stack of blocks, and played with direction and opacity on each to produce open and enclosed interior spaces.
Solid blocks of private spaces, are stacked in an open, laced pattern to form voids for shared living space. The long and short sides of the blocks are positioned in response to the urban and natural setting of the Stack House. On the mid level, the blocks run perpendicular to the street to open parts of the main living space to the street below and garden behind.
On the lower and upper levels, the blocks run parallel to the street to shape privacy for bedrooms, baths and utility spaces. The result of this laced stacking is an open, two-story void of shared space that is simultaneously protected for privacy and immersed in its natural surroundings.
To open a view to the lake, visible off the corner of the stack, the mid level block is pushed back from the street, like a move in a Jenga game, thereby making the corner a micro void for solitary contemplation of the water beyond.
Contrasting materials of corrugated metal, wood, and glass—express this stacking and shifting on the exterior. Inside, the blocks are carefully carved with curves and surfaced in white oak to shape more intimate spaces to join a family together to share a meal, to recline, read and take in the majestic oak outside, or to play the piano to fill the void with music.
