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WILLIAMSON RESIDENCE

Williamson Residents
Square Footage: 2204
Robbinsdale, Minnesota

Nestled between two parks near Lake Crystal in
Robbinsdale, Minnesota this remodel focused on reverting
life to the simplest ideas: understanding the human
connection to the earth and reusing waste for a purpose.
Also to create an environment within an already existing
one, similar to some coffee grown around the world.

TO SHADE AND TO ENVELOPE
Coffee grown in the shade (Rustic growing, refer to image
on the right) is slow ripening, and often is grown by
vintage cultivators, there is the suggestion that it tastes
better, with more complex flavors.

The home of the Williamson’s will sustain the family during Site plan
their entire life cycle and future residences. The structure
and the environment surrounding the home utilize shade
techniques, covering the home as if it were native to the
site.

The interior elements emphasize repetition in both plan
The above diagram shows the five different
and perspective. The elongated horizontal planes extend
coffee growing systems. Notice the vegetational
the eye’s composition up and through the space.
complexity, height of arboreal strata, and variety
The exterior environment elude to transitional areas being of components in the systems (from Toledo and
transparent and all areas being one. Moguel 1997).
The original footprint

2 EXTEND 3

Tree grafting: [the
tissue of one plant
is encouraged to
fuse with another]
creates a structure
hovering above the
Creating an outer shell, strong
already existing one.
lines help organize spaces.
Passive solar heating and
cooling technique such as
structure orientation on the site,
window placement and exterior
planting, also help determine
room placement. Then the
planning process is broken
down into simple planning steps
such as: site, amenities, wants
and then narrowing the most
important wants into the needs.

4 EXTEND 5

Diane, Robert, Jacob, Isabelle and soon to be baby, desire to have a home that will
be as environmentally conscious as they are. In addition to being environmentally Floor Plan
conscious they require a home that can accommodate their neighbor and 1. Entry 9. Mechanical Room
Robert’s mother, Ruth, who is physically handicapped. With hobbies ranging from
2. Entry Vestibule 10. Isabelle’s Room
gardening, composting, recycling and biking the family takes pride in reducing their
environmental footprint. Requesting the remodel for their home keep all structural 3. Laundry 11. Sink Area
13 14
walls and mechanical systems in place, they want to reduce waste and reuse 4. Diane’s Office 12. Bathroom
as much as possible. The initial interview with the family took place early in the 5. Kitchen 13. Jacob’s Room
morning and was obvious after the first few minutes of meeting, the fuel for their 6. Entertaining Room 14. Nursery
day was coffee. So further investigation into growing methods and sustainable 7. Dining Room 15. Master Bedroom 12 11
harvesting methods became the driving design concept for this project.
8. ADA Bathroom 16. Maser Bathroom

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Section of pubic living spaces, with ceiling lines guiding the eye through.
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3 1

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The flooring throughout the entryway shown here
and the laundry room adjacent to the entryway has
indoor/outdoor sealed slate for ease of cleaning.

The entryway is located on the
south side of the home, opposite
the street and driveway, hidden
for security and visual interest.

The entry vestibule has layers of
entry and then branching areas
for secondary functions, mainly
for the children and guests.
There are multiple areas to touch
down momentarily before being
drawn to the rest of the dwelling.

8 EXTEND 9

Reville, Diane’s eco-chic party planning
business, is headquartered in her home
office with large horizontal surfaces for
organization and assembly.

The custom kitchen utilized the existing fireplace to create a brick fire pizza oven. The center
island contains the major appliances and is also double-sided for additional storage. The brick
walls were added to the repeat the texture of the fireplace wall.

10 EXTEND 11

The dining room in the home has horizontal wood beams across the ceiling connecting Heat generated by halogen
to the vertical room dividing beams. The dropped light below dances around the lights activates a propeller and
space at night with only the high transom windows to let in thus movement in the Dancing
additional light. Shades lamp. The lamp projects
shadows on the wall that create
the same type of relaxing and
hypnotic atmosphere that
reflections of moving water
create.

Design
Frank Tjepkema

Reflected Ceiling Plan

12 EXTEND 13

The living area has a structural
wood partition creating a partial
visual block while still keeping
an open feel to the space.

The built-in unit carries the eye horizontally, vertically then horizontally again,
connecting the beam structures above, to the room below. The unit is made from
recycled materials with design assistance from the client’s.
14 EXTEND 15

Isabelle’s room designed to display a room for a girl of all ages. The soft
knobs on the wall create a wall of texture and color, and can also be used for
storage. As Isabelle grows the function for the knobs may also change, but
the graphic element with shapes will always stimulate the mind.

Soft knob by Ed Annink

The section cut of Isabelle’s
bedroom illustrates the
texture with form.

16 EXTEND 17

This portion of the hallway, adjacent
to the sink area, signifies the parent
only zone with an architectural pop
wood veneer pattern.

This separate sink area for three children allows for multiple users at the same time.

18 EXTEND 19

The multi-functioning nursery and playroom has a dynamic
complimentary color scheme for sensory stimulation.

20 EXTEND 21

The master suite has an open floor plan with a transitional 3Form wall
separating the bathroom and bedroom. The ceiling over the bed is 14’ with
wood beams like the dining room to create a canopy allowing light to emphasize
the height differences. The unifying design element, the back wall, is the Pop
plywood wood veneers also used in the hallway. The colors in Diane and
Robert’s room are a muted version of the palette for the dwelling.

22 EXTEND 23

PA S S A G E A passage system with segments of interrupted voided
AN I-35W BRIDGE MEMORIAL
masses. The fallen beams now serve as a memory rather
than support.

Simplicity in material: Metal allowed to deteriorate and fade.
Stone, native to the land able to chip back to the site.

“As the memory fades within us Passage will
Length: 554’
Gold Medal Park be the trigger that sparks what once was.”
Minneapolis, Minnesota

24 PA S S A G E 25

The top garden makes you feel as if
you are on a separate level connected
to the earth.

Curiosity to climb to the top.

From top to bottom the noises carried through the swirling trees.

The only burst of light were the brightly colored leaves still
clinging to the dark finger like branches all too stiff.
In the gloomy, cold, dead of the 360 degree winding path around the mound.
The swaying wind forced every leaf to stand at attention.
day the inauspicious reality sets in
of the situation and the past. The set of benches promised relaxation for hours.
The corner on the benches is the best
view, connecting North and East.

26 PA S S A G E 27

The mound and path existing
The preliminary sketch drawn from a in Gold Medal Park were
form study which creates floating islands originally going to remain in
inset in land volumes. When the land the park, serving as their own
connects to structure there are short memory; keeping their original
bridges and places of light. purpose. But with the new
purpose for the park, the
structures were removed so
not to conflict with the memory
created by the memorial.

Form studies

The benches create finger-like projections, pulling
the outsider into the park and letting them rest.

28 PA S S A G E 29

Views of the Stone
Arch Bridge to the
north and the new
1-35W bridge to the
east, Passage will
serve as a reminder
to the city. Those
affected by the bridge
collapse will not have
to be near to feel
its immensity and
presence.

32 PA S S A G E 33

The site of Passage, Gold Medal Park, just
west of the I-35W Bridge, was a gathering
place for many Minnesotans in the hours and
days following the bridge collapse.

The sections of void in structure, simulate the gaps in the bridge after the collapse.

34 35

The plan of the monument has gaps
in the limestone below to reveal the
fallen beams. The continuous glass
walkway may be unsettling for some
to walk across but once you enter
Passage you must move forward
or back, crossing over areas of
uneasiness.

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When manipulated by human force the
beams wouldn’t touch. But the original
beam design had strategically placed them
in a geometric pattern. The original design
also used a geometric pattern and repeated
it. When an experiment was done simulating
the falling action of structured beams, they
fell randomly. When left to gravity and natural
forces the beams never touched. The higher
the simulated beams were dropped, the
farther they separated when landing. Thus
the design for the final “fallen beams” portion
of the design became random and they were
meant to never touch one another.

38 PA S S A G E 39

The varying heights in the
structure of Passage were
derived from the height
variations of the original bridge.

40 PA S S A G E 41

FOREVER SPRING
AN ADVERTISING AGENCY

Meeting in college Jackson and Kate became leaders within
campus life and became organizers of regular group activities.
A natural tag team they would organize games, group events
and activities that caused interaction and sometimes light-
hearted competition. They would use games to evoke a spirit of
childhood and bring those involved to a common mind-set. They
realized by interacting with those around you not only enabled
creativity, but also caused relationships to be built. Teamwork
became initialized through necessity and strategy became
Square Footage: 7791 apparent. Activity, whether it be physical or mental, caused the
Minneapolis, Minnesota imagination to be boundless.
Group Project
The people who work for Forever Spring will have at times to put
themselves in a childhood mind-set, and Jackson and Kate know
just how to accomplish this.

1. Reception
2. Public Restrooms
3. Breakroom
4. Think Zone
5. Conference Area
5
1 6. Relaxation
7 7. Employee Entrance
13
6 4 8. Phone Booths
14 8
9. Creative Director’s Offices
11
10. Research Library
11. Print Station
12 2
3 12. Work Zone
10 9 13. Private Restroom
14. Work Station

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The design for Forever Spring encourages an interactive atmosphere that stretches the
imagination enhancing the work environment. The design utilizes reinvented objects and
bold colors to create a backdrop to highlight these pieces. Using variation in form, group
interaction will be initiated; color and form help define these areas. A healthy surrounding
formed in part by natural day lighting and sustainable materials improves employee
productivity.

44 FOREVER SPRING 45

The entrance to the advertising agency
from the skyway leaves nothing to the
imagination. With glass sliding doors the
public is able to see this bright, youthful
space, and intrigue is left in the pedestrian’s
mind as they round the corner.

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The concept for the design of the advertising agency is
a light-hearted sensibility and remembering the youthful
side of being an adult. With the opportunity to design
a chair for reception area, the inspiration came from my
childhood. Marbleworks is a game of constructing pieces
and simply watching marbles follow the path to the end.
The user of this chair has the same opportunity to put
a marble in the top, and watch it follow the path to the
bottom of the chair.


The
kitchen and
cafe area in Forever
Spring are designed to
be an equally inspiring
work zone, with areas
for collaboration,
or lunch meetings.
Natural light is utilized
to eliminate the need
for intrusive overhead
lighting. Soffits
hovering just above the
light fixtures, bounce
the light back down
onto the user.

Transformable, colorful, and
stimulating, the think zone is a
place for ideas to be exchanged
and fun to happen.


The think tank at Forever Spring contains areas to collaborate, and relax the mind. A habitable
wall inspired by Isamu Noguchi’s playground designs, where he only provides a space of
exploration rather then one of regimented play, telling the child what to do. The sketches to the
left provide ideas integrating office functions and fun, in a wall of varying heights and depths.

52 53

The sketch to the right is an idea
The conference room when for the think area, to hold semi-
closed creates a private room, private collaborating meetings. The
but also has the ability to be whimsical honeycomb idea, could be
open to the rest of the think area, a means of way finding throughout
allowing it to be transformable to Forever Spring, and an easily
all working needs. identifiable area for employees.

A section cut of an enclosed
meeting room displays the built-
in seating and multi-functions of
having an enclosed think zone.


The creative director’s, Jackson and Kate, want private
offices with the ability to open a wall of doors and
create a large collaborative private office.


Collaborative work can be achieved in these semi-private, low horizon
desks. The stations are mimicked above by the dropped lighting units. They
also reduce sound echoing in the main work area. The daylight sensors in
the work area allow for low usage of artificial lighting and concealed window
coverings can be used to regulate light throughout the day.

The work station is an area for cutting, spraying, and mounting, along with being another
general work area. Lighting in the room is mainly supplied by the south facing windows,
which receive the most sun penetration during regular business hours.


HDS-1
The concept of this residence is derived from A gesture, a strike, a pose.
the motion created by a volleyball spike. A gesture propelled by force with a voided leap and violent
A P R I VAT E R E S I D E N C E Heather Laudenbach, the client, has coached impact followed by a drop.
volleyball since she was 19 and including
an aspect of the game in the design for her The motion of a jump, suspension in space, is illustrated in
future residence is important. One of the form. Repetition and volume soften the industrial site along
strongest contacts, a spike, would create the with renewal of site with native landscaping and original
strongest volumes and forms, reflected in plan topography.
and perspective. The history of the game is The surrounding warehouse buildings with original dark
another element in the design, originating in brick and large openings create the backdrop for the
Holyoke, Massachusetts the site for HDS-1 collective of the residence.
is this small town. The industrial area along
the river contains shipping warehouses and Continuing the dark brick to front exterior wall, the structure
some of the best views of the river. The site is fuses the utilitarian urban hard scape with modern volumes
converted to its original topography and native of the structure.
plants replace the asphalt.
Holyoke Massachusetts

60 HDS-1 61

The site plan, which is a 60’ x Level one floor plan
100’ parcel of land is shown
1. Entry
here with the roof plan. Holyoke,
Massachusetts was chosen for 2. Guest Bathroom
its small town atmosphere with 3. Guest Bedroom
beautiful views of the Connecticut
4. Mechanical Room
River and its developing city.
5. Library
6. Living Room
1 7. Office
8. Dining Room

2 9. Kitchen
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3

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4

6

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9

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This exterior perspective shows surrounding warehouse
buildings along the river used for shipping and receiving
cargo freight. The exterior garage wall repeats the same
brick as the warehouses, slightly disguising it.

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The exterior perspective shows this homes ability to blend into the
The kitchen has custom surrounding environment of warehouses, but with volumes of color setting
cabinets in a high gloss it apart. The topography shown dropping off from one volume and
orange to reflect the regaining the structure on the next volume.
light from the river’s
reflections and used to
bounce light around the
entire kitchen. There is
a custom growing area
inset in the counter top
for herbs and spices.

66 HDS-1 67

The office nestled behind the library has a
semi-private atmosphere and has a glass
ceiling for views from every angle.

The living room has a glass ceiling so from
atop the stairs of the second level one can see
into the space. The transparency with walls,
windows and ceiling allows for sun penetration
and a view from any position in the structure.

68 HDS-1 69

Level two floorplan
10. Master Bathroom
11. Closet
12. Master Bedroom
13. Habitable Green Roof

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N

13

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The habitable green roof connecting to the master bedroom has
native plants to Massachusetts, including Big Bluestem, and
Tickle grasses, and Carolina Rose and Summersweet bushes.

The view from the master bedroom is overlooking the Connecticut River with access to the green rooftop.

72 HDS-1 73

This view from the
Connecticut River
shows the rotated upper
volume with privacy
wood beams protecting
the exterior staircase.
The natural topography
along the river has been
revitalized and the home
is cantilevered over the
steep drop-offs that
would occur near the
banks of the river.

74 HDS-1 75

RELEASE
A rooftop secret linking various forms,
shapes and depths to accommodate
THE YWCA GREEN ROOF those who live in an urban environment Sun studies during the summer and
but need a connection to nature. Indoor winter equinoxes were executed
and outdoor planting allows for the and the images display the need for
space to be accessed year round and sturdy plants requiring full sun, and
never have a fully dormant background. areas of protection for all users.
A play area that uses recycled materials
and natural colors will aid in blending
with newly formed environment. Also
the yoga spaces are transformable
allowing the adults to release their inner
December 22, 12pm
chaos either indoors or out. Green roof
techniques are used to enhance the
space visually and economically. Proper
use of day lighting allows all users
connect to the natural rhythm of the day
and year.
Minneapolis, Minnesota Individually the spaces serve different
users with different needs, but
creates a state of ultimate bliss, and A conceptual sketch creating a
empowerment for anyone who seeks graphic which displays the idea of
natural interaction. inner chaos and outer release.

December 22, 3pm

June 22, 6am
June 22, 9am June 22, 12pm June 22, 3pm June 22, 6pm
76 RELEASE 77

Public and private areas on the
rooftop become separated for user
preference and maintenance.

The flow of traffic is focused in the
atrium as a gathering space and
then depending on user branches in
either direction, creating distinctively
separate zones.

When laying out general areas on the
rooftop it became apparent that functions
and pathways were going to be defined by
New focal areas direct the eye
planting rather then large walkways. All areas
through the garden and serve as a
flow together and transitions are as seamless
way finding system for the space.
as possible.

78 RELEASE 79

4
5
6 7
A green roof has multiple advantages beyond just the aesthetic value. It improves
air quality by adding in natural ventilation systems (trees). Also from the layers
of planting and soil, the excess rainwater can be filtered and stored for later use. 3 8
After the plants are established there is little to no upkeep.
2

1

9

12

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1. Elevator Lobby 7. Yoga Studio Two
2. Stair Entrance Walkway 8. Nana Wall Storage
3. Yoga Studio Entrance 9. Garden Overlook
4. Storage Room 10. Children’s Storage Room
5. Outdoor Storage and Walkway 11. Children’s Play Area
6. Yoga Studio One 12. Entry Area and Seating

80 RELEASE 81

The door to the
exterior is a quiet
section of the wall,
and one might not
see it if they weren’t
looking for it.

The bench seating around the
atrium was ergonomically formed to The entrance and reception desk are a domed area full of

allow a person to fully recline in the motion. The desk will be lit from the displaying the YWCA

whole seat or perch on the edge. logo. There will be up-lighting from each of the beams that

The planting on the YWCA Green can be used as display shelving. The ceiling has an inverted

Roof will be native plants or grasses version of the dome creating texture and rhythm. This area

that can survive in the sometimes has high traffic and all the shapes create movement to assist

unforgiving climate of Minnesota. people to move through.

From the elevator lobby the user relaxes with the welcome of
trickling water through the rock wall.

82 RELEASE 83

The indoor entry tunnel to the
yoga studios is a quiet restful
repetitious walk for the mind
to take in natural day light and
the climbing plants. The rings
emphasize the inner chaos before
the release of the yoga studios.

This sketch displays the original idea for
the indoor tunnel and at the end of each
ring is a bench.

The outdoor storage for yoga students is an alternate to using the main locker room downstairs.

84 RELEASE 85

The yoga studios have reclaimed wood flooring and light
layered ceiling planes. In the back of each studio there are
sections of indoor plants and rocks that will overtime climb
the wall and bloom.

The teak inlay of flooring mimics the ceiling lines and directs the eye through the space. The
yoga studios have a glass wall separating the two spaces with access between. There are Nana
walls in the entire front of the studio which can be opened to enjoy the natural sunlight and air.
Along the perimeter of the adult area and children’s play area there is a ring of densely planted
grass in the shape of yoga mats. Weather permitting the students and teachers can use these
mats to feel a greater connection to the earth.

86 RELEASE 87

From atop the slide during winter the view of the entire rooftop can be taken in.

The children’s play area has three
different flooring materials, and custom
benches designed to seat two children.
All the equipment was custom designed
for the YWCA rooftop. The living walls
soften the large vertical concrete walls.

The children’s play area has a living wall but with shapes
cut out that allow only certain plants to grow through.
88 RELEASE 89

The ecological garden, the relocated peace garden, is a complex landscape where plants Rooftop View: Peavy Plaza
are grouped together into plant guilds. It reflects the natural cycles of the seasons-- birth,
growth, and decay become part of the garden landscape. At this site asparagus and its
plant companions are combined with prairie grass to provide a visual block to the street.
Also to allow for visual interest from Peavy Plaza, and the street below.

90 RELEASE 91

CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS
THE YWCA GREEN ROOF

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