Open Back

What do you do when your house doesn’t play well with your beloved backyard? You redesign how the two interact inside and out.

This home expansion was designed to cleanly connect a St. Paul home to its backyard, where the clients and their young kids like to spend most of their time. Our solution was a three-story rear addition that kept the character and symmetry of the existing structure. By creating a new dining room and stairway that descend into a walk-out basement, occupants are encouraged to flow from the living space to the outdoor space with minimal obstruction.

Details of the addition include highly insulated walls, a balcony ideal for a plein air breakfast, and a dedicated spot for muddy boots in the new basement thoroughfare.