Christopher Strom Architects
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Pop the Top

Pop the Top

Second Story Addition & Full Home Remodel | Minneapolis

 
“We wanted the expertise, artistry and partnership an architect would provide.”
— Pop the Top Clients

Space for a Young Family

A young family of four asked us to “pop the top” of their tiny one-story bungalow from 1924. The clients loved the Howe neighborhood of Minneapolis - and the wide open elementary school green to the south - but were bursting at the seams during the start of the Covid pandemic and a work-from-home lifestyle.

Art is infused into the owners’ domestic and professional lives. The wife, daughter of an accomplished painter and stained-glass artist, is an elementary school art teacher. The husband is a talented banjo player in a nationally-touring band. They wanted their new home to be a unique statement of their contemporary aesthetic tastes.

 
 

The “Missing Tooth”

The key to unlocking this second-story addition was finding room for the new stair. We capitalized on an odd “missing tooth” of space on the south side of the existing home which allowed us just enough space to insert the new stair. Instead of building a new foundation below the stair, we cantilevered it - meaning the stair is actually floating above the ground - which brought significant savings. This vertical circulation space features two gigantic 10’ x 8’ windows to harvest light deep into the adjacent living spaces. The new second level begins with a sunny common space for playing instruments and other shared activities.

 
 

Everything (Including) the Kitchen Sink

During demolition, as the owners watched selected portions of their home carefully removed, they decided to add a full kitchen remodel to their project’s scope. The design was needed fast; we embarked on an expedited design process to make the kitchen as vibrant and fresh as the exterior. Dark wood lower cabinets, light wood upper cabinets, and a blue tile backsplash combine for a fun space to gather, while a south-facing square window brings light to a new breakfast nook.

 
 

New Home, Same Neighborhood

With the pandemic receding, the husband’s job no longer requires remote work, but he chooses to enjoy the new spaces and works from home. The wife has more wall space to hang her father’s paintings, and the each child has their own bedroom. The family has a new home with all the comforts of the old neighborhood.