Amid architect David Salmela’s portfolio of acclaimed homes and businesses is a new opportunity to not only visit, but stay at one for a time. Finished this past year, the Tre Søstre—which means “three sisters” in Danish—properties entered the vacation rental market in the North Shore destination town Grand Marais.
The SkyHouse, the Aurora, and the Horizon are the newest additions to Todd and Susan Miller’s campus of unique lodging options located a half block from Lake Superior and just down the hill from the Gunflint Trail. All three free-standing units share the same stabbur-inspired shape, with a living/dining/kitchen space stacked above the bedrooms—though the Aurora has one bedroom level instead of two. Each retains its own color palette and personality, and one-of-a-kind wood sculptures created by Minneapolis artist Scott Christensen hang in each stairwell.
The clean lines, warm colors, and modern implements find form blissfully married with function. Underneath the buildings’ outer cedar siding, the walls were constructed with structural insulated panels (SIPs)—foam core between two structural facings—supplied by Energy Panel Structures. The panels add stability and keep the spaces climate controlled and airtight year-round.
For each property, the main amenity is arguably the panoramic views of Lake Superior and the waterfront from each dwelling’s upper-level living room and balconies. If you must, there is a hidden flat-screen TV, but don’t be surprised when the experience of being in the space proves far more captivating.
