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:
Darby says
I am agog!
Stephanie D. says
This is definately my favorite time capsule. I’m also pleased to know that my exact same clock (seen above the kitchen sink) is worthy of a million dollar home.
stacia says
This is truly gorgeous. I do, however, find the restrained colors a little monotonous in such a large house. BUT if I could afford it chances are I could afford an incredible, colorful art collection that would liven it up!
It would be a blank canvas for such a collection!
Lisa Compo says
This house is certainly enough to take your breath away. Is it vacant or is someone actually able to live without one piece of clutter?
All I can keep thinking is how beautiful it would look filled with Christmas decorations and a full blanket of snow outside those sweeping windows. Grab a mug of hot chocolate and just sit there and take it all in. Oooooh
Erik says
We live on this street in a mid-century modern and know a little bit about the house. It has been vacant for over a decade. It has been on the market for a couple years at this price. It has a great lake view not shown well in these pictures. We’d love to have a neighbor who appreciates the house for what it is! Our greatest fear is a tear down/McMansion next door.
Teri F says
We’re ready to move in!!!!!
Beverly says
I love it!! It has everything retro that I want! Thanks for sharing.
Douglas Camin @ House on Rynkus Hill says
Wow! This is one spectacular (and well maintained) abode. Hopefully whoever picks it up embraces the character of it and doesn’t run through looking to make big changes.
Kim says
I think I forgot to breath for a minute. I appreciate the outside deck & the windows. My 70’s ranch house is situated on a slope, & similar landscape and deck & the first few pictures really inspire me as to what I might be able to do. I’m curious about what was under all of that oatmeal carpet — would it be just a continuation of the adjacent floor treatments, or just pad & subfloor?
Lynne says
OH MY GAWD! I am gobsmacked by this home – just breathtaking. I hope that whoever buys it does so because they love it as is.
Trish Larson says
My husband and I were drooling looking at this fabulous house! Very curious what the list price is for this custom home.