Plains Art Museum: 3rd Annual Progressive Architecture Dinner

[Fargo's Urban Cabins]

Words by Tracy Nicholson 
Photography by Dan Francis Photography

When Plains Art Museum announced the theme of their 3rd Annual Progressive Architecture Dinner, "Urban Cabins", we were more than a little curious. This was our chance to see inside four of Fargo's most intriguing spaces, visit with the architects and owners, then sample an array of drinks and a spectacular catered course at every stop. Join the Midwest Nest team as we recap their September 28th event which introduced us to an "Urban Cabin" approach to home, architecture and art. ​

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Art + Architecture

Each year, this highly anticipated event is specially curated by Sandy Thompson, Director of Development, and Andy Maus, Director & CEO at Plains Art Museum. The two search out the unusual, the sophisticated, the painstakingly detailed, and most often, the spaces and homes that many of us could only dream of residing in. While most of us play it safe, the faces behind these spaces push the envelope to design an experience, reinvent the norm, maybe even create something that's never been seen. 

This four-home tour is designed to introduce the community to the idea of art plus architecture. Every home's tour lasts roughly one hour and ends with a conversation between the homeowner and the architect, offering an open forum for guests to inquire. All proceeds from the tour sustain PlainsArt4All, the Museum’s free general admission initiative.

Tour #1: Matt Chamber's Mod Bachelor Pad | Downtown Fargo 

[Hors d'œuvres: VIP Restaurant & Catering ]

Serving small bites like smoked salmon, cucumbers, and dill with Caprese, | Cuban, blackberry mozzarella, and melon prosciutto and blue cheese skewers

About the Home: 

Located in Downtown Fargo, Chamber's home was built in 1969 as the architecture firm for Clark & Holman. Originally, the second floor was the firm, and the first floor was commercial space that was rented out. The open atrium in the back was once a true terrarium, glassed off with plants and trees. Chris Hemmah, a local graphic designer, and his ex-wife, Julie Hemmah, bought the building in 2008, devising plans to redesign it as a home. While Stahl Architects of Fargo is the architect of record, Dave Uhlir is primarily responsible for the home's design with collaboration from the Hemmahs. The green and gray grid work exterior was inspired by Palm Springs architecture and designed by both Chris Hemmah and Julie Hemmah. 

Fun Fact: The house was featured as Wall Street Journal’s “House of the Day” in October of 2010.

Meet the Homeowner: Matt Chambers 

As the third owner, Matt Chambers' mod bachelor pad in Downtown Fargo is still heavily influenced by the home's original design which was inspired by the past owner's love of Palm Spring's architecture. The renovation was done prior, and it came complete with many of the Hemmah's Mid-century modern art and furnishings. "I like the idea of keeping those things because the whole place is just designed to fit and work together," said Chambers. To get the home staged and ready for the tour, Chambers brought in Trever Hill Design to give the home a few custom touches. 

"I love gadgets and connective things, so I've been constantly adding more cameras and speakers; the wiring in here has more Cat5 cables in the walls then probably most new businesses. Between the sound systems, the TVs, my car, and the radiant heat, it's a very nice gadget house. Chris and I have since been in touch - the more I've gotten to know him, the more I realized that we are of kindred mindsets."

"A lot of the artwork was Chris and Julie's, but I did bring over a few of my own - including the 1947 map in the dining room and square print in my bedroom - that's one of my favorites. It says, 'I love you', but it was from when my niece was three and she'd scratched it out on a little three-inch by three-inch paper that was on my fridge. I blew it up and made that print out of it," explained Chambers. 

"It's a very unique place; I don't know if it'd be for everyone, but it's definitely for me. This home has such amazing attention-to-detail."

• Matt Chambers, homeowner

Meet the Architects: Stahl Architects & Dave Uhlir 

Phil Stahl had met Chris Hemmah while at neighboring businesses and the two had quickly become friends. Hemmah brought the project to Stahl, but unable to take on more work, he referred it to a young colleague, Dave Uhlir who became the primary architect. Uhlir currently works as an architect in Minneapolis.  

"He said he needed three bedrooms, an office, a kitchen, living room, dining room, home theater, an art gallery, four stall garage, and an outdoor space - so right away, I'm thinking, that's going to cost about $1.5 million, 5,000 square feet and about an acre of land. He said he had about 3,000 square feet, it's in Downtown Fargo, and he only has windows on one side, but let's get to work," laughed Uhlir. 

"The design was just making it as efficient as possible, compressing spaces, minimizing hallways, make every room usable, but not too small. To make the connection, we broke up the space with three areas, putting bedrooms on two ends, then an open living space in the middle," said Uhlir.

"It was a 100 percent collaboration between Julie, Dave, Phil and myself," said past homeowner, Chris Hemmah. "Dave worked directly with us on the design, but Julie and I had very strong ideas and did a lot of the design work ourselves, modifying his concepts. We tested his patience with our own design input - but he did a fantastic job and provided just what we needed."

"Chris did his own construction management and it turned out to be a great project. We didn't go too heavy on expensive materials - it's gypsum board, paint, LVT flooring - we tried to let the space speak for itself. One of my favorite spaces is the atrium - it was kind of a 'found' space," said Uhlir. "To them, it was their outdoor space, but it gave us that light on both sides of the building and a wow factor. It's an exciting element that ties the two floors together." 

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Tour #2: Marjorie Schlossman's Artist Studio & Garden / Main Avenue, Fargo

[ Salad Course: Chef's Table Catering ]

Garden Harvest salad with Green Goddess dressing

While most of us have driven by Marjorie Schlossman's art studio, located on Main Avenue in Fargo, not many have had the pleasure of seeing inside. One day it was holding its longtime place as Gene's TV Clinic, and the next day it seemed to have transformed into something otherworldly. Covered by English Ivy within a trellis structure on all four exterior walls, the building's curb presence was intended to be discreet. 

The Landscape: Baker Garden & Gift 

As you enter the property, the building's design begins where you park. Ryan Hoss, who's now retired from Baker Garden & Gift, worked with Schlossman to design a permeable parking lot, created to have grass grow in between the pavers. "I remember him talking about this project in 2012; the whole concept was to create an oasis within, so that when you get into the garden, you forget where you're at," explained Eric Baker, owner of Baker Garden & Gift.

"On site, two buildings were falling down with a lot of concrete and gravel. To get plants to grow, we excavated about two feet and dug up all kinds of stuff, including that grave marker from 1893 that's now in the corner of the yard," said Baker. "We brought in engineered soil, the best possible soil that you can grow something in."

Meet the Owner & Abstract Artist: Marjorie Schlossman
​
Architect: Richard Moorhead | Contractor: Rod Marks 

"Marjorie said it was the Gene's TV building - it's on a decrepit street in a decrepit building. She didn't ask my advice, but if she would have, I would have told her, 'Don't do it’,” laughed the architect, Richard Moorhead. "When we designed this studio with her, we wanted to make it discreet, because we didn't want people coming in the front door. We tried to make it look like a big hedge so it would disappear as much as we possible, together with the beautiful garden that complements it on the back side."

"I wanted a storage space because my work was getting out of control," laughed Schlossman. Schlossman is an accomplished abstract artist and teaches painting classes every Wednesday at Plains Art Museum. She typically paints at her lake studio, so this building is used primarily for storage, with the occasional studio session. Her large-scale abstract work can be found at the museum and also at West Acres Mall. 

"Richard Moorhead of Image Group Architecture in Moorhead is the architect who designed this. Rod Marks was the contractor - he built the whole space with art storage in the back. He was here for a year, every day but three," said Schlossman. 
 
"She gave me the program and said it should have no windows, but, that's exactly what we needed - the natural light. If you're going to have an art studio, you have to have good north light," said Moorhead. "In fact, if you look at the ceiling, you'll see the glass is obscure on three sides and fully clear on the north side. It's tempered so you don't get the harsh glare." Schlossman's glass skylight has already been broken three times by passer-bys throwing rocks. 

Look down and you'll see a floor that welcomes paint. Schlossman loved the idea and abstract beauty of letting the paint fall where it may. If you're looking for the restroom, Schlossman will guide you to the large wooden shipping crate in the back of the studio; a clever design for a creative space. 

Tour #3: Governor Doug Burgum & Kathryn Burgum's "Skybarn" Condo | Downtown Fargo

[ Entree Course: 46 North Pints & Provisions ]

Bison chuck roast braised in Summit's Oatmeal Stout | cabbage slaw & chimichurri potatoes

Our third stop had us overlooking the heart of Downtown Fargo at Doug and Kathryn Burgum's "Skybarn" condo. What began as two apartments has since been remodeled with a design collaboration by Chris Hawley Architects and Land Elements of Fargo. This project was a local trendsetter, becoming one of the first high-end properties to set a higher standard in condo concepts and luxury rooftop patios. 

Meet the Architect: Chris Hawley

"This particular project was actually two apartment units and started out as a speculative condo. As we went through the project, it became clear that this was not speculative, it was very personal. The first thing you're greeted with walking in is the wood from a grain elevator - that's how Doug's family got their start. A lot of things that are in here are near and dear to Doug and Kathryn's heart," said architect, Chris Hawley. "There are a lot of personal and special materials that came from properties they own. When you work with Doug, everything has to have meaning and everything has to have a story, otherwise you just don't do it."

The condo's powder room or 'outhouse' is designed using material from one of Burgum's properties. "He basically reassembled an outhouse inside of an existing urban condo," said Hawley. 

"A lot of the things in here are a product of trying to remodel something that was always intended to be a more market-driven apartment, not a high-end residential condo. All of the ceilings you see that help define areas are not just for aesthetics - these are plum full of mechanical systems," said Hawley. "When you do a remodel, it should never feel like it was remodeled."

"This became was one of the first projects down here to really show what you can do with a smaller space. It's under 3,000 square feet, and it's a three-bedroom - but, nearly every space turns into some sort of additional sleeping space," said Hawley. "There may have been a lot of constraints to start, but constraints can also help drive projects."

"When you work with Doug, he will put together a list of requirements, basically, of what the project has to do. One of his things was, 'Wouldn't it be interesting if every room could get natural light?' We are in an urban setting, buried between a unit on each side, yet we got natural light into every room by borrowing light from other rooms. If we got too far away from windows, we'd bring in solar tubes," said Hawley. "I'm a big fan of natural light - I think that spaces that don't have natural light, don't get used or are sometimes considered second-rate."

The Rooftop Patio: Land Elements

Landscape architects, Mike Allmendinger and Brian Reinarts of Land Elements were heavily involved in this project due to the rooftop renovation - it became one of the first collaborations between them and Chris Hawley Architects. "This property sat for a long time and there were a lot of people not sold yet on the idea of a rooftop patio. People don't think of a landscape architect having a lot to do with urban areas, but this was an ugly rooftop when it started out," said Hawley. "By the time we were done, this was in The Wall Street Journal, on the cover."

Tour #4: Regin Schwaen & Megan Duda's Cloud House  |  Linden Avenue South, Fargo 

[ Desserts: Indulgence Bakery, Kayla Houchin ]

Cheesecakes: Key Lime, New York Style, Lemon Blueberry, Triple Chocolate, 
Kahlúa Coffee 

Our fourth and final stop took us to architect, Regin Schwaen, and photographer, Megan Duda's "Cloud House", near Lindenwood Park in Fargo. Starting at 800 square feet their 1919 home has since been remodeled to 1,300 square feet marvel, extending to the sky with dramatic, Scandinavian flair. 

The Cloud 

Meeting guests from the walkway to the front door is one of the home's most dominant architectural features, "The Cloud". On the exterior, the protruding structure is supported by a single steel beam and the expanse acts as an overhang to the entrance. Surrounding the structure, Schwaen hired students to complete the cedar lattice system, and the footings were set in a rarely-seen fabric form. This unusual style results in a pin tuck-style, concrete finish. All style aside, Schwaen's purpose behind the structure is to create a nearly flood-proof home. 

Coming up with an interesting texture to complement the corrugated metal, concrete,  handmade shutters, and cedar was not easy on a limited budget, but Schwaen and Duda are creatives by trade. Instead of investing in an expensive siding materials to wrap 'The Cloud', they repurposed simple, black rubber doormats for a bold take on texture. 

After a move from Virginia in 2007, there were five things that Duda requested in their home. "I grew up on the East Coast and there were trees everywhere, so I needed a yard with trees, and a street with a name - the numbers were very foreign to me. I wanted a gas range, a clawfoot bathtub, and the house had to something we could live in and renovate at the same time. This house had every single criteria, so when I walked in, I just knew this was the house we'd buy - and it was really cheap," laughed Duda. 

Inside the Home: Architecture & Artistry

At a quaint 1,300 square feet, their family resides in cozy quarters exhibiting their own creative take on minimalistic and Scandinavian design. To stay within a reasonable budget, Schwaen and Duda used varying salvaged and alternative materials throughout the home. In their main living area and library, expansive windows are fashioned from safety glass that was repurposed from the airport security area. Two of the larger, triple-paned windows were simply given to them by a neighbor down the road. 

Schwaen and Duda consider their remodel to be essentially, a "house within a house." The 100-year-old house is wrapped in seven-and-a-half-inches of insulation, making the new house incredibly energy efficient. Their heating bill is roughly $500 a year, and they rarely need air conditioning. 

Although the historic home is primarily hidden beneath, the couple played with raw concept areas, allowing the old materials to peek out in places like their master bedroom's historic wall and repurposed library window. They also used the home's cavities to create built-ins wherever they needed additional storage - even some that could be utilized from both sides. 

Inside "The Cloud" room, Schwaen and Duda have created an innovative guest quarters with handmade wood shutters which open to a tree top view of the Red River. 

"I couldn’t have been happier with this year’s home selections – all featured modern aesthetics and sensibilities, but with such variety of forms and ‘feels.’ We started with the precise coolness of Matt Chamber’s place and ended with the warm and playful quirkiness of the 'Cloud House,' owned by creative powerhouse duo Regin Schwaen and Meghan Duda. The contrast between these spaces, and their owners, was amazing to experience – modern architecture can be so diverse.”   

• Andy Maus, Director & CEO at Plains Art Museum

Mark your Calendars!

Don't miss the 4th Annual Progressive Architecture Dinner: Saturday, August 29, 2020.
Tour details will be revealed in early July 2020.
 
For more information, contact: 

Plains Art Museum

• Sandy Thompson | Director of Development
• 704 First Avenue North, Fargo 
• 701.551.6122 
• sthompson@plainsart.org 
• plainsart.org

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