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It’s their H initial, of course. But that’s not why architect David O’Brien Wagner chose it. The H shape makes the most of the Horsches’ special lot - a wedge-shaped slice of land overlooking Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis. click here, click here

“They wanted a connection to what was happening out on the lake,” said Wagner, of SALA Architects. That led to the idea of two building elements, a pair of separate wings “wedged” apart, with one set at a slight angle to maximize views. click here, click here

“A lot of the buildings around the lake are very formal; their presence doesn’t speak of welcoming,” Wagner said, while the Horsches’ home’s very structure “welcomes the landscape into the building, like two arms outstretched.” click here, click here

“In the summer time, the porch is wonderful!” Mary enthused. “We have more interaction with neighbors.” click here, click here

The Horsches’ deep attachment to their neighborhood is what led them to the home in the first place. click here, click here

So they found a midcentury split-level rambler, just a block away from their foursquare. In addition to its prime location facing the lake, it had a magnolia tree in the front yard that Mary had been noticing for years. “It’s the first tree to bloom in spring, with magnificent white flowers,” she said. click here, click here

That opened up the possibilities of truly making the most of the site and creating a home that expressed the Horsches’ taste and lifestyle. They wanted a house that was modern in style, with clean lines and square edges - but without the wide-open floor plan common in many of today’s contemporary homes. click here, click here

Also on their wish list: a first-floor owners’ suite, plus a first-floor TV/media room with plenty of separation, so that Mary could enjoy peace and quiet in their bedroom when Russ was watching sports. “There are only two of us in the house, and we have separate viewing habits,” she said. click here, click here