Sited on six acres of land bordering West Boot Lake in Marine on St. Croix, Cloud Forest House is an addition and renovation for a young family of five. Upon the first visit to the property, the homeowners were reminded of their travels to the Cloud Forests of Ecuador. They purchased the 1990’s home and after ten years of living in their home, the homeowners knew they were staying put. For them, it was time to update the house to respond to the site they fell in love with and intended to stay at.

The existing placement of the home was spot on. The bedroom wing, situated on the north end of the site, functioned well for the family of five. However, the two-car garage and small entryway stole all of the western light into the main living spaces leaving the existing kitchen and living room in darkness for a large part of the day. Additionally, the homeowners wished to add a new primary suite on the main level. The solution was to retain the existing bedroom wing, maintain the existing footprint of the main living spaces, add a new primary bedroom suite and relocate the garage.

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By maintaining the bedroom wing, the footprint of the main living spaces and cleverly relocating the garage, the site was minimally disturbed with little grading, leaving the existing driveway and the septic field in place. In addition, some of the foundations and framing were able to be reused. Now, the newly revamped great room draws the exterior in with higher ceilings and large windows for ample daylighting. The new roof has 5'-0" overhangs providing interior shade and creating horizontal sightlines more fitting with the homeowners’ design aesthetic.

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Intended to be their forever home, the homeowners requested durable, long-lasting materials that could withstand an active family and the test of time. Locally sourced concrete panels clad the exterior and interior of the home. Other long-lasting materials include aluminum interior and exterior windows, ironwood siding and decking along with exposed structural steel beams and columns, all of which combined add warmth and texture to the home. For the cherry on top - a beautifully crafted stainless steel spiral stair leads to the roof deck where they can dream of the Cloud Forests of Ecuador.

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PRESS

2022 Homes By Architects Tour

RAVE Award

Midwest Homes Design Awards

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CREDITS

Architecture: Imprint Architecture and Design, LLC

Contractor: Hagstrom Builder

Concrete Panels: Living Stone Concrete Design

Steel Fabricator: Bold Metal Work LLC

Cabinets: Eull Woodworks

Windows: Kolbe Windows and Doors

Photographer: Corey Gaffer Photography

Photographer: James Kruger, Landmark Photography