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:
Jamie says
I love mid century modern and this house is beautiful. But the carpet . I’d have shag carpet over that!
Rachel says
What an awesome house!
Tammy says
Amazing house. Is the dishwasher located in front of the living room carpet? I’m not saying this correctly–but it looks like a dishwasher at the end of the run of cabinets and that the carpet is in front of it.
Bill says
I kept waiting for Betty and Don Draper to show up in one of the pictures! The fixtures and cabinetry in the kitchen blew my mind! Of course there’s a P.A. system. You’d wear your lungs out trying to yell for your spouse to get ready in that house. I would eat Ramen noodles for the rest of my life if it meant I could get enough dough to live there. This is a testament to what happens when you take care of your stuff. Obviously no children ever lived here.
adfitz says
Ramen diet for the house. Yup
Scott San Filippo says
Stunning. (and fyi – several of your links are broken above)
pam kueber says
Thanks, Scott. I fixed the links… they come… and they go!
Angel says
My pulse actually quickened as I reviewed the photos; a physiologic reaction to the most awesome home I’ve ever seen.
There is nothing like MCA. Magnificent. Brilliant. Nirvana. When I die, I want to haunt this house.
Colleflower says
I agree! Just had an out of body experience!! Beautiful home!
Phil French says
You said Golly heck!
Mark E. says
Pam, How do I send you a link for a timec apsule realestate listing I just ran across in suburban Chicago?
pam kueber says
Mark, use the contact form at the bottom of the page. Thanks!
Jamie says
I feel weak, I ABSOLUTELY am in LOVE with this house!!!
Angel says
Weak here too! Was just glad I was seated when reviewing gallery or I would have fainted away.
anthony says
Those gravity defying stairs are incredible:)