The House That Art Built
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By Chip Borkenhagen
Photography by Andrea Baumann
Julia and George Suttons’ childhood summers were full of the kinship gatherings, loon-serenaded sunsets, and rock-skipping contests that swirled around their families’ summer cabins. The lure of the lakes was etched deeply enough that, although their careers took them to cities around the world, their hearts remained in the water, woods, and wildlife.
The Suttons’ energies and talents became directed toward the arts—primarily dance and theater. They performed with companies in numerous productions in the Twin Cites, New York, and Europe. Increasingly drawn to the business side of the arts, George redirected his career toward helping others build their own expressions of dance, drama, music, and visual arts. He has built a successful business of consulting with arts organizations in cultural facility development work across the country. Working with communities, artists, and funders, he helps them organize projects such as performing arts centers or museums. Within their artistic world, the Suttons also acquired a wonderful collection of paintings, photography, and sculpture.
Julie and George got married in northern Morrison County at a friend’s farm. While there, they discovered the unique and remote building site nearby in the Lincoln Lakes area where they would build their home, inspired by their artistic spirits.
Becoming familiar with the property for seven years before construction began gave them ample time to think about how to approach constructing a new building on the site of an existing structure. Their architect-neighbor across the lake, along with George’s business partner, contributed enormously to determining possibilities and optimizing the potential of the setting. Maximizing the view—while retaining the sense of a northern setting and retreat—was important to the Suttons. In addition, zoning requirements meant that most of the construction needed to stay within the footprint of the old house, due to its proximity to the lake.
The Suttons assembled a team of local contractors to work on the project. Everyone understood the challenges of building an artful house within the restrictions and parameters imposed by the site. The underground garage has a green roof. This was the only way in which a garage was allowed because it didn’t add impermeable surface to the site.
The home features in-floor, off-peak heating. Passive solar was a natural choice with the south-facing windows. Super energy-efficient fireplaces were designed to add to the boiler system’s heating capabilities. The rural agricultural architecture of barns, machinery sheds, and silos surrounding the region helped to inspire the building shapes of arched roofs and clerestory windows.
Julia, George, and daughter, Ruby, realize how fortunate they are to have created a place that reflects and respects the nature around them, as well as a home for the beautiful artwork that they have collected. Views from every room in the house reflect a wonderful marriage of a remarkable setting and an artistic sensibility.