Urban Reset

Set within a dense South Minneapolis neighborhood, Urban Reset reimagines a modest city lot with care and restraint. The new home honors the scale and character of its early 20th-century neighbors while introducing a refreshed, modern sensibility. Balancing openness and privacy, the design feels expansive and welcoming, anchored by the large front porch common to South Minneapolis homes, while remaining grounded in scale and layout.

Working within a modest budget, the project preserves the original foundation of the 1950s rambler, a sustainable and cost-conscious decision that maintains the home’s established footprint. A single course of masonry block was added to the lower-level walls, subtly increasing ceiling height and transforming the basement into a bright, livable space without altering the home’s relationship to the street or neighboring properties.

The main-level plan largely reflects the original layout, retaining the entry, living room, dining room, and kitchen in their existing locations. Two former bedrooms were reconfigured into a primary suite, while a third was replaced with a laundry and powder room. Three children’s bedrooms occupy the new second floor, while the lower level includes a family room, sauna, spa-like bathroom, and home office.

Open porches extend from both the front and rear of the house, including a dining porch with sliding glass doors on two sides that draw natural light deep into the interior. Though the exterior remains compact and familiar with its simple gabled form, warm, durable finishes and abundant daylight bring richness to the efficient layout. The result is a home that feels personal and rooted—modern yet welcoming, refined yet highly livable for a busy family of five.