Crane Island Summer Home

An idyllic retreat located within a National Register Historic District

Owned by the same families for generations, the 14 summer cottages on Crane Island in Lake Minnetonka comprise a National Register Historic District. Located on the site of a demolished cottage, this new summer home delicately fits into the historic context, while respecting the Midwestern architectural character cherished by residents. Designed to celebrate casual summer living, the house accommodates frequent guests, as well as spaces for retreat. The project also entailed relocating a small historic shed on the property and converting it into a guest house. The design breaks down the scale of the house by creating two linked gabled structures to better match the scale of the other island homes. Each gabled part has slightly different detailing to convey the sense of accretion over time. The ensemble of structures on the site (including the main house, guest house, and existing water tower) provides an ideal relaxed environment for the activities of the family and their guests.