Art D' Maison

What were the circumstances of receiving the commission for this project?

The client (a fine art collector) saw our storefront graphics that reads “public artist” as one of our titles. This intrigued the client enough to stop into our office for an on-the-spot interview about our work and design philosophy. We immediately received the commission.

Can you describe your design process for the building?

Our firm held a design competition within our office. A principal architect (Philip Stahl), an intern and an architecture student each designed a residence based on our established program and design direction given by the client. The student’s entry actually won the original direction for our design. This design became the final product.

How does the completed building compare to the project as designed? Were there any dramatic changes between the two and/or lessons learned during construction?

From the beginning, both architect and owner valued the aesthetic (critical regionalism) as the highest value and priority, even over a pre-conceived budget. All effort was made to protect the purity and originality of the initial design language. Each detail was measured against this language for its integrity. A three-to-five-hour meeting on one detail was commonplace with the client for this very purpose.

How does the building compare to other projects in your office, be it the same or other building types?

The Midwestern US culture is a very practical one, so a client that valued design as much as his priceless art was a breath of fresh air for our passionate design team.  We accept the culture as one of our design constraints, but it can hamper a stronger design at times.

How does the building relate to contemporary architectural trends, be it sustainability, technology, etc.?

Due to the unique nature of the elongated structure and exaggerated height with stick frame construction, the residence naturally lent itself to superinsulated, SIPS, thermal mass for a slab-on-grade structure (heat storage in a cold weather climate). The residence was more of a high-end art gallery that doubled as living quarters for the curator than the other way around. The latest smart-home technology, lighting, smart boiler, security, sound systems were all integrated into the design.

Are there any new/upcoming projects in your office that this building’s design and construction has influenced?

Fargo and our Midwest region were shy about modern design…this was the resurgence and point of courage for continued modern architecture in our area. This gallery made our reputation at the time and put us on the map, so to speak.

How would you describe the architecture of [State] and how does the building relate to it?

Modern, agrarian archetypes, or abstracted farmstead structures were the impetus for this design, respecting the heritage of the Plains farming community with a critical eye toward, color, texture, massing. This project is a modern icon of the rural US Midwest.

Email interview conducted by John Hill.