One-of-a Kind Ladder for the MIN+ Workshop

We believe simplicity and functionality are key tenants of timeless design.  When the MIN+ office started work on their new garage/workshop, we were able to make a big impact on usability by incorporating relatively small, thoughtful details.  The tight urban context, the historical neighborhood character and the contemporary MIN+ aesthetic, all contributed to an end result that we like to call “obvious architecture”; a solution that feels appropriate, attractive, and solicits a feeling of “of course it was designed that way.”  A playful example is our custom welded steel ladder, designed to provide access to the flat roof within a limited footprint.

In addition to collaborating with local fabricators and tradesmen, we strove to respect and integrate historical features of our Nationally Recognized LaSalle Park neighborhood into the design. Salvaged terra cotta parapet caps were acquired from two well-known, local salvage yards – Perhat Lumber and Lemp Salvage. The original stamp of “Laclede St. Louis” is a visible marker on each of the caps, referencing the once prominent local manufacturer which was once ubiquitous.