Three-Season Porch | Edina, Minnesota
The clients approached us to design a three-season porch which would allow them to enjoy their beautiful backyard for as much as of the year as possible. From the start, they wanted to use E-Z Screen windows, which are operable vinyl windows that can stay open on warmer days, or closed in the shoulder seasons.
Unlike typical construction, where the structure can be hidden behind drywall, all elements of this porch are exposed. The steel columns are on display, as well as the structural cedar boards which create the walls and encase the windows. There is no trim or drywall to hide the imperfections. This means that everything - from the steel-to-cedar connections to the electrical wiring - had to be thoughtfully considered before construction began.
A key feature of the porch is the custom steel railing. Due to the nature of steel, the railing is made off-site and then delivered in large pieces to be installed. Thus, it takes careful coordination between all parties - the architect, the builder, and the welder - to create a successful custom railing. The railing is designed down to a 1/16” of an inch in order to seamlessly slide into place.
After all the challenging design considerations - including Edina’s own codes and zoning - the three-season porch has become a refuge for the homeowners to enjoy for many seasons to come.
