Going, Going, Gone! The Oskam House by Close Associates

Join Docomomo US/MN on Thursday, October 9, 2025 for an opportunity to see a 1963 Close Associates home still occupied by its commissioning client.

*Early-Bird Registation is now open to Docomomo US/MN members:
Click on the 'Check availability' button, and select your time slot. Enter your Docomomo US/MN member email address in the 'Access Code' field to unlock early-bird tickets.

The Marri and Hendrik Oskam House is a rare, pristine example of the residential designs of Elizabeth “Lisl” Scheu Close, an acclaimed modern architect and cofounder of the first architectural firm in Minnesota dedicated to modern design. The house has been meticulously maintained for six decades by its original owners.

Completed in 1963, the two-story modern house stands on a wooded lot on Indianhead Lake in Edina. Its design was Influenced by Austrian-born Close’s affinity for European modernism and the International Style, which the Oskams (who emigrated from the Netherlands) also embraced. Their like-mindedness allowed the house to become a full expression of Lisl’s design philosophies ,while also realizing the Oskam’s preferences for the kind of home they wished to build.

The Oskam House features such signature Close elements as sensitive siting, the preservation of trees, durable redwood siding, and a butterfly roof. The main level is characterized by an open plan and a beamed redwood ceiling. Skylights flood the interior with natural light and expansive windows frame views to the lake. Brick floors and a brick fireplace and surround (a nod to the Oskams’ Dutch roots) provide warmth and texture.

The Oskam residence is the only modern house in the city to have been designated an Edina Heritage Landmark. In 2025, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places for its significance as the “work of a master,” that master being Elizabeth Scheu Close.

The house will be open for 40-minute, self-guided tours onThursday, October 9, 2025 – Eventbrite registration is required to attend.

This is a free event! Registration opens for Docomomo US/MN members on Sunday, September 28. Non-member registration opens on Wednesday, October 1. Guests must choose an entry time upon registration:
4:30pm
5:15pm
6:00pm

Please park on the street, observing all local regulations. Address will be provided with Eventbrite registration.

You will need to walk down the driveway to the front door. Stair climbing is required to access all levels of the house; please email ZG9jb21vbW8gISB1cyAhIG1uIHwgZ21haWwgISBjb20= with any accessibility questions.

More information about this event can be found at:
https://www.docomomo-us-mn.org/going-going-gone-the-oskam-house

Photos Courtesy Bill Olexy

Also check out other Trips & Adventurous Activities in Edina.