Hall House

Duluth, MN, United States

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Hall House

Duluth, MN, United States

Firm

Salmela Architect

Type

Residential › Private House

YEAR

2012

SIZE

1000 sqft - 3000 sqft

There is the notion in architecture of building upon the foundations of our predecessors both in theory and practice. Such is the case with Hall House, which seeks to reinterpret and re-imagine what it means to be modern migrants homesteading in a new city.
Relocating from the political culture of Washington, DC to the remote city of Duluth, MN, the owners purchased a house constructed in the 1880s that was significantly inefficient with regard to the building envelope, layout, and natural orientation to light and views. With the relative difficulty of constructing on ledge rock, effort was given to utilize several existing elements such as foundations, retaining walls, and site stairs (all stained white) and to construct simple masonry piers for the addition.

Through insulation, the basement was transformed to make it an effective occupied space. The new main floor opens onto multiple outdoor spaces that provide a variety of opportunities for the owners to enjoy the light and beautiful views of Lake Superior. In aggregate, the house appears a contradiction, both rooted in stone and floating beyond its past footprint towards the lake.

The goal of this new dwelling was to have it serve all the modernist values of openness, light, economy, sustainability, and connection to the land, yet enhance the natural qualities of the site. Whereas the former immigrants came and adapted to their new culture carrying with them their own instincts, the Hall House represents the client’s modern thought layered over and respecting the ruins of the past.

Photography: Paul Crosby