For this 1961 time capsule house, by architect John Polivka just outside Minneapolis, I’m pulling out all my favorite adjectives, this house is: Stunning, spectacular, amazing, jaw-dropping, drop-dead gorgeous. Thanks to selling agent Jacob Smith of Sotheby’s International Realty for giving us permission to feature this house, and to reader Dan, who sent us this tip! Pictures tell this story, so move along, we worked overtime this Friday night to load up a slide show 66 beautiful photos — taken by Mike McCaw of Spacecrafting — who clearly had immense fun capturing the gorgeous linearity of this house on camera.
According to the listing, this house was built in 1961. Covering just over 4,100 s.f., it has four bedrooms and fours baths. It sits on fully recreational Sweeney Lake and is just five minutes from Minneapolis. It is for sale for $1.25 million. A hefty sum, yes, but just keep lookin’ and you will understand.
Alas, we have rushed these photos to the blog so fast that we do not have information on the architect. The house seems to be a study in linearity. It also appears to have been impeccably maintained.
Update: Thanks to Retro Love Affair, who told us that the architect was John Polivka – you can read his biography here (link now gone, alas).
Take a look at a quick selection of shots, then head to the gallery below:
Note the restrained palette — a rich warm brown brown, light colored brick, black slate tile and beams:
And pay attention — the two kitchen photo aboves — that is LIGHTING underneath all those beamed panels on the ceiling. This lighting design is repeated in bathrooms and throughout the house — that is, minimal use of “ceiling fixtures”, upstairs especially. The vintage refrigerators are Revco, I’d guess — see this story.
And, oh my my, take a look at the staircase: Again, linearity is the rule of the day:
In the bathrooms, note the use of small square mosaic tiles — this is EASILY REPLICATED today!
The house is situated to enjoy the vista across Sweeney Lake:
Yes, we like to show lots of mid century modest houses here on the blog — because they are wonderful, too, and we do not want them to get lost in the shuffle of the seemingly ever-onward aspirations in our society today. That said, we ADORE a gorgeous, architect mid-century modern masterpiece as much as the next person. Golly heck, we adore this house!
Repeat of link love:
- Listing – 1961 time capsule house [link now expired]
- Thanks to agent Jacob Smith of Sotheby’s International Realty for permission
- Super thanks to Mike McCaw of Spacecrafting for the photos — he sent us all these high-resolution photos to feature!
- And thanks, Dan, for your tip. Readers, we love you! Keep those tips coming!
Tips to view slide show: Click on first image… it will enlarge and you can also read my captions… move forward or back via arrows below the photo… you can start or stop at any image:
Shelly says
Thank You!! What a wonderful way to wake up!!! All the comments above say it all…so…Thank you!
Lisa says
This is so beautiful that it’s honestly a little painful to look at. Satisfying, but it hurts. I’ve had similar feelings when touring architecture in Palm Springs. But it feeds my soul!
kENNETH says
I don’t have much experience in architecture, but I know what I like, and WOW!
Virginia says
Wow, every room is a work of art.
Nicole says
Love this place thanks for showing it.
Is there a floor plan available to see how to property flows? The tiles are great but the wood tones are just my cup of tea…
pam kueber says
Not that I am aware…
andrew says
the house is incredible. i would love to live there. perfect example of good design lasting decades and not needing to be “updated” every few years. it looks so contemporary today.
James Warren says
Did this house sell? Do you want to RE sell it?
Andrew Rota says
We are planning to restore our home in the coming years. We would love to do something similar to the custom pattern slate flooring. Does anyone have any info on the design? It would be a great help. If not I guess ill be making the pattern myself and cutting a lot of custom slate!
pam kueber says
I do not know. This kind of stuff is around, though. We have one story: https://retrorenovation.com/2010/01/20/multi-color-slate-flooring-an-authentic-mid-century-choice/
Jamie says
Hi, all! The link to info about the architect doesn’t work. But I googled him — he designed the “cloverleaf” for highways!
Dan says
Reminds me of Goldfinger’s Kentucky house.