Salmela Architect

Hall House

Hall House
© Paul Crosby

HALL HOUSE

Salmela Architect

CATEGORY
House

LOCATION
Duluth, United states

AREA
2424 m²

PHOTOGRAPHS
Paul Crosby

YEAR
2012

Hall House
© Paul Crosby
Hall House
© Paul Crosby

Text description provided by architect.

There is the notion in architecture of building upon the foundations of our predecessors both in theory and practice.

Hall House
© Paul Crosby
Hall House
© Paul Crosby

As is the case with Hall House which seeks to reinterpret/re-imagine what it means to be modern migrants homesteading in a new city.

Hall House
© Paul Crosby
Hall House
© Paul Crosby
Hall House
© Paul Crosby

Relocating from the political culture of Washington, DC to the remote city of Duluth, MN, the owners purchased a house constructed in the 1880’s that was significantly inefficient with regard to the building envelope, layout, natural orientation to light and views.

Hall House
© Paul Crosby
Hall House
© Paul Crosby
Hall House
© Paul Crosby

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.

Hall House
© Paul Crosby
Hall House
© Paul Crosby

By insulating, the basement was transformed to make it an effective occupied space.

Hall House
© Paul Crosby
Hall House
© Paul Crosby
Hall House
© Paul Crosby
Hall House
© Paul Crosby
Hall House
© Paul Crosby

The new main floor opens onto multiple outdoor spaces that provide a variety of opportunities for the owners to enjoy the light and the beautiful views of Lake Superior.

Hall House
© Paul Crosby
Hall House
© Paul Crosby

In aggregate the house appears a contradiction; both rooted in stone and floating beyond its past footprint towards the lake.

Hall House
© Paul Crosby
Hall House
© Paul Crosby
Hall House
© Paul Crosby
Hall House
© Paul Crosby

The goal of this new dwelling was to have it serve all the modernist values of openness, light, economy, sustainability, 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.

Hall House
© Paul Crosby


Hall House
Elevation
Hall House
Floor Plan
Hall House
Site Plan

Salmela Architect
T +1 218 7247517
Salmela Architect
630 W 4th St, Duluth, MN 55806, United States