SALA Architects, Inc.

Introduction to SALA Green by Marc Sloot
(as seen on the popular Blueprint For Green television program)
See and hear Marc introduce SALA’s holistic approach to designing homes that are:

2008 AIA Minnesota Home of the Month Awards Announced
Minneapolis, Minnesota - - The sixth annual Home of the Month program, a cooperative venture of the American Institute of Architects Minnesota (AIA Minnesota) and the Star Tribune newspaper, announced their selection for monthly features that will run on the first Saturday of each month, May 3, 2008 – April 4, 2009, in the Homes section.
The selection panel, comprised of Sarah Nettleton, AIA, LEED, Sarah Nettleton Architects; Thomas Fisher, Assoc. AIA, Dean of the College of Design at the University of Minnesota and Linda Mack, former architecture critic for the Star Tribune, met on Tuesday, March 25.

The selection panel sought out projects that conveyed a unique and valued design solution as presented on project boards. The selection panel did not visit any of the sites. They reviewed the submissions, gauging a project’s encouragement of a sense of place, how it responds to its surrounding context, any particularly distinguishing characteristics, and how it reflects its owners’ vision of home.

Riverhouse

Riverhouse
Black River Falls, Wisconsin
Designed by Katherine Hillbrand and Meghan Kell Cornell, Deb Kees and Jim Larson. Landscape Design by Jason Aune.

Minnetrista Farmhouse

Minnetrista Farmhouse
Minnetrista, Minnesota
Designed by Michaela Mahady with Jessica Wilder and Maury Stenerson. Built by Johnson Smaby Construction.

Madeline Island Retreat

Madeline Island Retreat
Madeline Island, Wisconsin
Designed by Dale Mulfinger and Dan Wallace.

David O’Brien Wagner, AIA, "2008 National AIA Small Projects Award" recipient

David O’Brien Wagner, AIA, received a "2008 National AIA Small Projects Award" for his PINE/Cone meditation space. The AIA Small Project Practitioners fourth annual Small Projects Awards program, promotes excellence in small-project design. The awards program emphasizes the excellence of small-project design and strives to raise public awareness of the value and design excellence that architects bring to all projects, regardless of the size and scope.
PINE/Cone
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska, Minnesota
PINE/Cone was designed to be a quiet, contemplative space set within a small grove of pine trees on the Arboretum grounds. It’s simple shape and warm wood coloring are visible from a nearby pathway inviting visitors into the realm of the trees. PINE/Cone appears to float above the forest floor creating a dialogue between the pure geometry of the object and the irregular nature of trees and terrain. Defined pathways are absent allowing visitors to establish their own relationship to the site as they move in-and-around trees and structure.

As a winning entry to the Arboretum’s juried competition, SALA interpreted the exhibit theme “Human/Nature” by creating correlations between built-form and the Arboretum’s natural setting. From inside, framed views through the doorways establish a powerful visual relationship to the surrounding landscape. Wall materials are locally sourced and hearken to the natural state of the site’s tall pine trees. Symmetrically placed seats encourage visitors to lean back against the sloping interior walls and gaze up into the tree canopy. A small centrally located basin uses polished black granite and collected rainwater to reflect and unite the images of sky, trees, structure, and visitor.

Designed by David O’Brien Wagner, AIA.
Built by Mike Otto Construction and assisted by an inspired crew of SALA volunteers.



Photographs by Peter Bastianeli-Kerze.

Lake Home & Cabin Show

SALA will also be at the Lake Home & Cabin Show, April 11-13, 2008, at the Minneapolis Convention Center. More information available at www.lakehomeandcabinshow.com

SALA Prize

As an indelible reflection of it's 25th anniversary as a firm, SALA Architects, Inc. has established the SALA Prize for BS in Architecture students at the U of M College of Design with a $25,000 endowment. The prize is envisioned as support and recognition for present and future BS students as well as a gesture of gratitude for all former students who enriched SALA and it's residential work with their time, talent and vision. 

SALA’s newest associate, Meghan Kell Cornell

SALA Architects, Inc. has promoted Meghan Kell Cornell to the position of Associate. Meghan has over 10 years of professional experience with SALA Architects, Inc.  Meghan joined SALA full time after receiving her Bachelors of Architecture degree from the University of Minnesota in 1997.  She is a registered architect in Minnesota.  

The Eco House

The Eco House is a major feature at the center of the Minnesota State Fair's Eco Experience.
This year's Eco House was designed by Marc Sloot of SALA Architects to meet LEED for Homes and Minnesota GreenStar Green Building standards for certification. It is a great example of a home that is Green, beautiful AND affordable. The design takes an integrated, whole-building approach that uses materials efficiently, saves energy, cuts waste, reduces water usage and maintains healthy indoor air.

Construction was coordinated by Northwoods Custom Homes (www.northwoodscustomhomes.com)
Structure by Panel Works Plus (www.panelworksplus.com)  
Most interior finishes and furnishings supplied by Natural Built Home (www.naturalbuilthome.com)

For a complete list of contributors and to find out more information go to:
www.ecoexperience.org then click on Green Buildings

B.L.E.N.D. Award


Growing up Green at 5257 Washburn Ave. S. has been chosen to receive the Fulton B.L.E.N.D. Award for 2007 in the Remodel/Addition category. (B.L.E.N.D. stand for Buildings and Landscaped Enhancing the Neighborhood Through Design). More information is available at www.fultonneighborhood.org

Paul Buum, "Young Architects Award" Recipient

Paul Buum, AIA, is the recipient of the 2007 Young Architects Award by the Minnesota Society of the American Institute of Architects. This award is given to architects who are members of AIA Minnesota, have been licensed for less than 10 years, and have shown exceptional leadership in service to the profession, the community, design, planning and education.

2007 RAVE Awards

Awards Acknowledge Residential Architects’ Vision & Excellence

Seven residential architecture projects by Minnesota architects were selected for the 2007 Residential Architects Vision and Excellence (RAVE) Awards. The RAVE program, in its fourth year, was created by AIA Minnesota and Mpls.St.Paul Magazine to recognize excellence in residential design and raise awareness of the benefits of using an architect. Forty-four submissions were entered in different categories including new and remodeled homes, large and small sizes and budgets.

The SALA 2007 RAVE projects are:


Loon’s Nest (Detail category)
David O’Brien Wagner, AIA


Do It Yourself S.H.E.D. (Detail category)
Eric Odor, AIA, and Marcelo Valdes


Cottage Addition (Remodel Less than 800 SF category)
Paul Buum, AIA with Bryan Anderson, AIA

 

Home Design

Marcelo Valdes class through the Compleat Scholar. Offered throughtout the year. Check online at www.cce.umn.edu/scholars.

What are the key elements of successful home design? During this course you will gain an understanding of how color, space, texture, and form play a key role in developing a home design that is welcoming, striking, and reflective of you and your family’s personality and lifestyle. Using a wealth of knowledge from his years spent as a residential designer, the instructor will showcase the history of home design, the philosophy behind good design, and examples of successful home design strategies. Whether you are contemplating a design project in the future, or are in the midst of a home redesign, slide-illustrated lectures and discussions will introduce you to various design elements and ideas, and provide you with inspiration for your own projects. You will learn about the concept of house “types” and review trends in architectural design since the 1980s that have encouraged the creation of “not so big” houses that Sarah Susanka has written extensively about. During the final class session you will be encouraged to bring a project in the planning stages or in progress for a one-on-one design consultation with the instructor.