Five Twin Cities homes open Saturday for tour showcasing modernism
Five mid-century homes in the Twin Cities will open for tours Saturday as design enthusiasts spotlight the modern architecture movement's mark on Minnesota.
Docomomo US/MN, a nonprofit organization dedicated to documenting and preserving modern architecture and design, is behind the 2024 Mid-Century Fall Home Tour, which will mark its 15th year Saturday and showcase the work of influential Minnesota architect Carl Graffunder.
"Graffunder projects spanning 1952-1968 are open for this tour, offering a comparative look at the evolution of the architect's style during the height of mid-century design in Minnesota," Docomomo US/MN shared.
Homes included in the tour include the Yogel House, which has had just four owners since its construction in 1952. The home sits on a wooded, five-acre property in Sunfish Lake.
This year's tour will also offer a look inside the Leighton House and the Dale Tile House, both located in Minneapolis and dating back to 1955.
The distinctive Leighton House, which overlooks Kenwood Park, offers an example of rectilinear home; the house is brick on the first floor with wooden siding above and features a suspended, second-floor balcony and cypress wood trim both inside and out.
The Dale Tile House, located near Diamond Lake, was designed by Graffunder for his sister and brother-in-law, who owned the Dale Tile Co.
Today, the home features all of the original tile, a cantilevered tiled living room fireplace and other original fixtures.
The third Minneapolis home on the tour, dated 1968, is the Hafner House near Lake Harriet, which Docomomo US/MN states has maintained its "airy treehouse feel."
Tour-goers will also have a chance to walk through the Taeko Tanaka-Perry Residence in Golden Valley, which dates back to 1966 and was originally owned by pottery artist Taeko Tanaka.
Partly inspired by a Japanese county home and commissioned by Tanaka, the home features a studio and kiln.
Event details
All homes featured on the tour will be open from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday for self-guided tours.
A reception and tour of the Normandale Lutheran Church in Edina is scheduled to follow from 3 p.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Tickets to the 2024 Mid-Century Fall Home Tour are $30 for Docomomo US/MN members, $55 for non-members and $15 for Students.
