Alpine Architecture

Tucked amid the forest and cattails of Fish Lake, Craftwell Architecture + Construction fused two states of inspiration to reflect alpine architecture – traveling from Montana’s peaks to Minnesota’s pines. With an elevated aesthetic fusing natural material and modern form, Principal Architect Mike Dawson and his team crafted a year-round retreat that brings together family, faith, and fun.

BY Tracy Nicholson
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Scott Amundson

BRINGING INSPIRATION HOME
Although these homeowners were new to lake life, they knew what they wanted. After a stay in Bozeman, Montana, they brought rugged inspiration home to Minnesota’s Fish Lake. With a younger family and a sister next door on the subdivided lot, the homeowners were referred to Craftwell Architecture + Construction to design and build their family’s lakeside getaway. Tasked with recreating Montana’s alpine aesthetic within wooded lakes country, Craftwell started at the root of nature-driven design.

“The lot was all natural woods, but the owners had a good sense of where they wanted the house to be,” said Dawson. “We did many site visits to discuss placement, orientation, privacy from the road, views to the lake, and entrances. Starting from scratch, in terms of the layout, we actually nailed the design on the very first concept. The treated pine exterior took further development, then we worked on the interiors with the owners. We managed the details of the home from start to finish, being really mindful of the arrival experience and the size of openings to the road versus lakeside.”

“The owners love sharing this lake home with others – it felt like they set out to do this more for other people than themselves.”

Mike Dawson, Principal Architect - Craftwell Architecture + Construction

Craftwell’s project team was led by Principal Architect Mike Dawson, Project Manager Grant Simonson, Project Supervisor Dave Walther, and Construction Manager Scott Biewer.

MOUNTAIN-MODERN
Envisioning a “Mountain-Modern” concept, Craftwell utilized locally sourced pine from Hatchet & Co, which was treated to accelerate the aging process. The team strategically oriented vertical and horizontal pine to enhance the texture and compliment the home’s steel fascia and natural stone, extending from outside to inside.

“It’s a significant structure, but with its more natural finishes, it blends into the wooded environment well,” said Dawson. “Even though it’s brand-new, with all the modern amenities, its natural state gives the impression that it’s always existed here. We had to clear out some of the woods on the lot, so it felt right to replace it with a wood-clad home.”

On the shoreline within carefully curated grounds by Lakes Area Landscaping, the owners embraced and parted the cattails, creating the ultimate sunset walk along a pier dock system that permanently lives in the lake.

LAKESIDE LODGING
Inside the main living area’s 2,860 square feet, Craftwell conveyed the essence of the owner’s inspiration through a balance of form, function, and interest that integrated rustic, traditional, and modern elements. “I like to figure out what people want their home to feel like rather than look like,” said Dawson. “At one point, this project had a lot more wood and stone, but we reeled the project back a bit, making it more about the light quality inside. It’s ok to have the simplicity of drywall, which allows other really special elements to shine.”

With the stone and wood scaled back, the steel I-beams and exposed pine elements found greater appreciation. Craftwell finished the I-beams with a Johnson paste wax that keeps the steel from rusting too aggressively. All were carefully balanced to build a trifecta of emotion, connecting to the softscapes and hardscapes of lake, forest, and mountains. “The outcome is light and airy, but also earthy and heavy simultaneously,” added Dawson.

GREAT (OUTDOORS) ROOM
Amid an open layout in the main living area, ceiling heights range from 16 to 20 feet at its peak, reserving space for the exposed pine kitchen, stone-encased dining room, and a breathtaking vaulted great room overlooking the lake.

To complete the solid stone hearth, Craftwell underwent a nationwide search before discovering this unbridled mass of stone in Nebraska. The owners chose their furnishings, Carson Masonry installed the stonework, and Straightline Design crafted the hot-rolled steel above the I-beam mantel with a blackened effect and clear finish.

“It just feels really quiet and peaceful in here. We paid close attention to how we insulated the exterior walls, including a layer of spray foam, and then fiberglass,” said Dawson. “We also ensured the lakeside windows were all triple-paned with a UV film to protect from solar gain, especially important with the 10-foot windows.”

LAKESIDE & ROADSIDE VIEWS
Near the 1,094-square-foot garage is a mudroom, primary suite, and a home gym. The main level also features a glass-enclosed office facing the great room with a view directly to the lake. “The owner loved the idea of being able to work and have a view of the road, along with an unobstructed view of the lake,” said Dawson. “While this might not be ideal for some people, he’s very tidy, so the glass enclosure works well for the owners.”

PERSONALIZED PRIMARY
Vaulted ceilings and shoreline views continue in the primary suite from bed to bath, including a stunning arched entrance and custom-designed door that leads to the primary bath.

“We really enjoyed working with the homeowners; she did a great job communicating her preferences on the interior design details,” said Dawson. “She sent lighting examples and design ideas, and her husband, who has a construction background, was also really engaged in keeping an eye on the construction progress.”

ELEVATED BUNKROOMS
Taking a detour to 1,750 square feet upstairs, are the boy’s bunkroom, girl’s bunkroom, and coordinating universal bathrooms. While a similar layout, the boy’s bunkroom features rustic elements carried from the exterior, and the girl’s bunkroom features softer finishes with brass railings. “We did not intend for these bunkrooms to have a super polished design, but we still wanted both to feel refined,” added Dawson.

In separate shared restrooms, Craftwell designed open sink rooms, a changing room, a walk-in shower, and enclosed toilet rooms – ensuring privacy and efficiency for more than one person at the same time.

OUTDOOR LIVING ROOM + LAKE ROOM
Heading back to the main level, we complete the tour where it typically begins, through the 740-square-foot three-season outdoor living room. “It was important that guests see the lake and house first, before the garage. The outdoor room creates an opportunity to look directly through to the lake.”

The outdoor living room captures the view and maintains warmth and comfort all year long, enhanced with a second stone hearth and motorized shades in a double-roller of screens and vinyl. The outdoor living room layout provides a controlled access point, directing beach guests through the outdoor space, and inside to the “lake room.” From inside, the lake room, near the pantry and powder room, is considered the day-to-day entry and drop zone, with a washer and dryer, benches, storage, and beach towel hooks.

This mountain-modern lake home wasn’t built solely to suit the style and needs of its owners; this design was meant to be shared. “They wanted to be able to entertain others, and for them, that meant hosting larger gatherings of 50 to 100 people,” said Dawson. “Their faith and community are really important to them, so this needed to be a place that could bring everyone together, gathering for worship or teaching. The owners love sharing this lake home with others – it felt like they set out to do this more for other people than themselves.

DESIGN DETAILS
Architect: Craftwell Architecture + Construction
Material Supply: Simonson Lumber
HVAC/Plumbing: Home Heating, Plumbing & A/C
Electrical: Summerville Electric
Masonry: Carson Masonry Company
Excavation: Westlund Excavating
Decorative Steel: Straightline Design
Siding/Roofing/Gutters: Allstar Construction of Fargo
Concrete: Opatril Concrete Construction
Appliances: Rigels Appliance
Cabinets: Swedberg Wood Products
Framing: Dawson Contracting/RJM Builders/Peasley Construction/VIP Builders
Trimwork: Peasley Construction, Froehle Woodworking, Askeland Enterprises
Garage Doors: Advance Garage Door
Siding & Wood Products: Hatchet & Co.
Wood Flooring: Materia Hardwood
Tile Supply & Install: I’ll Tile & Stone
Motorized Screens: Minnesota Screens
Blinds: Dakota Blinds
Fireplace: Home & Hearth
Insulation: Cullen Insulation
Paint: Grant’s Painting
Glazing: Frontier Glass & Mirror
Septic: Metry Septic
Drywall: Weyer Companies
Landscaping: Lakes Area Landscaping
Windows & Exterior Doors: Pella Windows
Asphalt: Riley Bros Paving
Structural Steel: Fargo Steel Fabrication

For more information, contact:
Craftwell Architecture + Construction
202 4th St N | Fargo, ND (New Location)
701.478.4600
info@wecraftwell.com
CHAarch.com