900 Sanchez 2023

Spanning over 3,100 square feet, the SoMa residence comes with a ground-level office, sleek amenities, and verdant patios.

In the evening, the glass-clad home glows from within, an inviting presence in the forest. While the interior is highly visible, the trees and landscaping on the sloped site offer privacy for the residents.

The slim, black frame on the Marvin windows in the bedroom are visually unobtrusive and keep the focus on the view.

The large stone fireplace cleverly serves multiple purposes. It is a grounding feature in the primarily glass design, creates a cozy atmosphere in winter months, and functions as an important structural element that makes the vast expanses of glass possible.

The patio extends the living space outside in warmer months and is connected to the interior via Marvin Modern Multi-Slide Doors and Marvin Modern Direct Glaze windows. A small path leads through the towering trees, directly to the lake.

The extensive use of glass allows the residents to enjoy changing views throughout the year. In the warmer months, the 60-foot sliding glass panels of the Marvin Modern Multi-Slide Door allow for an almost covered porch feel. In cooler months, when the doors are closed, the view remains unobstructed.

The home is crafted from glass, timber, and steel—a simple yet refined palette that complements the spectacular natural setting. The deck is surrounded by lush planting that further integrates the built form into the landscape and offers a green outlook from inside, while a “Zen garden” on the lower level introduces greenery to the interior.

Glazing on both sides of the home and an open floor plan allows for beautiful water and forest views throughout the living space.

The clients—a family of five with three children in college—wanted to create an “urban cabin” that embraces the tranquil forested site on the shores of Lake Minnetonka. The solution was to use vast expanses of glass to dissolve the boundaries between inside and out.

The Climate Barn floor plan

Electricity needs are more than met by an array of solar panels that produces 14,423 kWh/year. “It’s a beautiful little power plant,” says Jeff.

The cooktop is by Wolf and the oven, hood, and dishwasher are by Bosch.

The all-electric kitchen features oak cabinetry and a marble countertop.

The living room features a sofa by Medley Home, a rug by Dash & Albert from Annie Selke, Akari Paper Lanterns by Noguchi, and an Aluminum Group Management chair by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller.

The airy, light-filled interior is made of reclaimed timber and siding from a 19th-century barn.

Triple-glazed windows and doors from Zola mitigate thermal gain.

“We always had it in the back of our minds to do something like this,” says Jeff. “At some point we wanted to build a house that totally represented our values.”

Created as a retreat for scientists and researchers, the Climate Barn in eastern Long Island is the brain-child of owners Jeff Tannenbaum and Nisa Geller. Working with architect Shauna McManus, they’ve created a net-zero-energy structure that showcases affordable, sustainable design.