Universal connections to 'home'
Architect Charles Stinson's "Connections" ($70, Wise Ink Creative Publishing) is more than a showy cocktail table book packed with pretty pictures of houses.
"By reading the clients' stories, you learn the possibilities of how you can live more connected to nature, light and space," said Stinson.
The Twin Cities-based architect has made a name for himself locally and internationally with his trademark warm, modern aesthetic, defined by sleek horizontal lines, flat rooflines and expanses of glass.
In "Connections," Stinson not only showcases some of his firm's architectural achievements, but also weaves in the clients' tales of building their dream homes from inception to completion.
The stories and photos give an inside look at an array of impressive residences, ranging from a tropical oceanside getaway on the Cayman Islands to an expansive mountain retreat in Vail, Colo. "The clients found out they both loved Frank Lloyd Wright homes on a first date," said Stinson. "And they dreamed of living in the Colorado mountains."
You may have even driven by the book's nine Stinson-designed homes in Minnesota, including an "urban treehouse" across from a Minneapolis lake and a suburban modern limestone beauty built by dermatologist Dr. Charles Crutchfield and his wife, Laurie.
The arresting photos by Paul Crosby, illuminating the fine craftsmanship, natural materials and details in every space, give a sense of what it would be like to lounge by a steel-clad fireplace or prep a meal in the coolest kitchen ever.
"Architecture is about living in harmony with nature and your surroundings," said Stinson. "And allowing in light and views that soar."
