Simply west of Stillwater, Minnesota, PKA Structure designed this contemporary prairie dwelling for a pair returning to the Midwest after greater than 20 years of metropolis dwelling. Named Prärie Hus, the three,400-square-foot home sits in White Oaks Savanna, a neighborhood of architect-designed houses on restored prairie.
The homeowners needed house, quiet and a front-row seat to the altering seasons. Their German and Nordic heritage additionally formed the design, with white oak and white partitions inside. The undertaking was named a 2025-2026 AIA Minnesota and Star Tribune Dwelling of the Month. Proceed beneath to see the remainder of this fabulous dwelling tour…
DESIGN DETAILS
ARCHITECT PKA Structure
INTERIOR DESIGN AND FURNISHINGS Home-owner in collaboration with Dwell 44
BUILDER Marsden Constructing and Transforming
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Pebl.
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER Bunkers & Associates
PERGOLA FABRICATOR Suncoast Enclosures Twin Cities
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT White Oaks Savanna
A Minnesota Prairie Dwelling Impressed by German and Nordic Barns
Prärie Hus interprets to “prairie home.” Farmsteads in Germany and Scandinavia impressed the outside, a glance that additionally formed this Scandinavian farmhouse in Minnesota. From one finish to the opposite, the gables maintain two bed room suites, the principle dwelling space and the storage. In consequence, the home doesn’t look heavy on the open land.
Black TruExterior siding, made with recovered fly ash, covers the gables, whereas Kebony wooden siding wraps the areas between them. Every roof is standing-seam steel. As a result of the home has no clear entrance or again, both aspect can act as the principle facade.
This Minnesota prairie house is tucked low into the positioning, going through wetlands, grassland and a historic barn. On the strategy, an increase within the pure grade varieties an entry courtroom.
PKA additionally drew up the grasp plan for White Oaks Savanna. The neighborhood has 30 dwelling websites of 5 to seven acres every, and far of the remaining land is put aside for native grasses and natural farming. The identical neighborhood can be dwelling to this trendy Tudor home with wide-open prairie views.
What We Love About This Dwelling
The black exterior makes an attention grabbing first impression, however the low rooflines hold the home from trying too large for its website. We additionally love the wood-clad hyperlinks between the gables and the inexperienced tile area of interest within the kitchen. As a result of most rooms look straight out to the meadow, the view modifications with each season. This energy-efficient prairie dwelling matches fantastically into rural Minnesota.
Inform Us: Would you commerce metropolis life for a house surrounded by open prairie? Tell us within the Feedback beneath; we love studying your suggestions!
Be aware: Remember to try a few different inspiring dwelling excursions that we now have featured right here on One Kindesign from the portfolio of the architects of this undertaking, PKA Structure: An natural trendy home nestled on a picturesque Minnesota property and Inside a gabled cottage-style dwelling in Minnesota with swoon-worthy interiors.
Above: The entrance door sits in one of many wood-clad hyperlinks, which warms up the black facade.
Gabled Pavilions Joined by Flat-Roofed Hyperlinks
From outdoors, it might cross for a row of trendy barn homes, however the plan is one steady T form. Three flat-roofed hyperlinks tie the gables collectively and minimize the home into smaller items. As architect Brent Nelson explains, “Having a combination of pitched-gable varieties and flat-roof hyperlinks actually breaks down the massing.”
Apart from a small mechanical room within the basement, every little thing is on one stage. The homeowners deliberate for the day a guardian may want to maneuver in. In consequence, the house is already accessible.
A Vaulted Nice Room Framed by Prairie Views
The primary dwelling house has the tallest ceiling in the home and home windows on either side. White oak covers the flooring, ceiling, doorways and cabinetry, set in opposition to partitions painted Benjamin Moore White Dove.
As a result of there may be a lot glass, the homeowners selected UV-filtering triple-pane home windows from H Window in Ashland, Wisconsin.
Above: A see-through pendant from Moooi hangs over the eating desk with out blocking the view. The desk and chairs by Huppé got here from Dwell 44 in St. Louis Park.
Above: Two sofas face one another throughout the hearth, with home windows on either side looking to the meadow. In the meantime, a tall plaster chimney wall rises all the best way to the height of the ceiling.
Above: A linear fire in white tile anchors the dwelling space, and a neon Love Is Love signal provides colour.
Above: The couple discovered this figural portray at an artwork collective in Boulder, Colorado. Since then, it has hung by the entrance door in each dwelling they’ve shared.
A Minimalist White Oak Kitchen with Inexperienced Tile
Minneapolis-based Hurley Customized Cupboards constructed the flat-panel cabinetry right here and all through this Minnesota prairie dwelling, all with out seen {hardware}. The homeowners selected Corian counter tops for his or her smooth, matte look. A slim linear fixture from Sonneman hangs over the island.
Above: Inexperienced Fireclay tile strains the cooking area of interest. The black pot filler and tap additionally match the window frames.
Above: An induction cooktop sits beside the tile area of interest, with a window to the meadow on the finish of the island. On the similar time, the island sink lets the cook dinner look out to the view whereas prepping.
Above: Finger-jointed corners on the drawers present the craftsmanship that went into the cabinetry.
A Again Kitchen That Opens to the Backyard
Above: Built-in lighting brightens the open cabinets, the place on a regular basis pottery and cookware keep inside straightforward attain.
The homeowners name themselves minimalists, so the again kitchen and bar retains the blender, toaster, and different small home equipment out of the principle kitchen. As well as, a glass door leads straight out to the herb and vegetable backyard. One house owner likes to backyard, and the opposite likes to cook dinner, so that they use this connection usually.
The raised beds develop herbs, kale, carrots, and beets. Over time, the homeowners have additionally added native seeds to the panorama, designed by Jonathan Blaseg of Pebl.
An Power-Environment friendly Prairie Dwelling Constructed for Minnesota Winters
The partitions are constructed from structural insulated panels (SIPs), which minimize development waste, enhance insulation, and velocity up constructing. Rooftop photo voltaic panels additionally assist energy the home, and all home equipment are electrical.
Outdoors, a louvered pergola covers the patio. Its louvers shut in opposition to rain or sturdy summer season solar, and the body consists of built-in gutters.
Versatile Areas for Health and Film Nights
Above: A slatted oak display defines a exercise space, with a tall window overlooking the courtyard.
Above: The den sits within the bed room wing, behind a big pocket door. The couple relaxes there at evening on a Maiden Dwelling sectional and a Room & Board chair.
Bed room Suites Wrapped in Nature
From the proprietor’s bed room, no different buildings or lights are in sight. The rabbit portray got here from Hedge, a store close to Palm Springs, and the Eames lounge chair is from Design Inside Attain.
Above: The second suite offers visiting family and friends a personal room with its personal view. Equally, white oak paneling strains the wall behind the mattress.
Above: Within the powder room, patterned wallpaper and a pierced ceramic pendant add texture to the straightforward white oak vainness.
Above: A tall lavatory window appears to be like out to the meadow and bushes. The vanities use Brizo plumbing fixtures and Sonneman lighting, and the proprietor’s tub has an out of doors bathe simply outdoors the door.
Dwelling with the Seasons in a Minnesota Prairie Dwelling
The homeowners say the very best a part of dwelling right here is watching the climate. For instance, storms roll throughout the open sky, the celebs are clear, and so they’ve seen the northern lights from dwelling a number of instances. On windy days, the tall grasses transfer in a manner they discover virtually hypnotic.
Above: At nightfall, the lined patio glows between the gables, lined with black planter containers that body the out of doors dwelling house.
Above: At golden hour, the darkish rooftops virtually disappear into the grassland.
Should you love this setting, check out one other Stillwater prairie fashion home that’s nestled right into a hillside.
PHOTOGRAPHER Spacecrafting
