Going, Going, Gone! The Oskam House by Close Associates. Thursday October 9, 2025; 4:30-6:45pm

This Close Associates Home is on the National Register of Historic Places

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.

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, which will be coming to the market for the first time in its history, 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 Oskams’ 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. 
Photos Courtesy Bill Olexy

Tour Details:

The house will be open for 40-minute,  self-guided tours on Thursday, October 9, 2025 – Eventbrite registration is required to attend. Address will be provided upon regsitration.

This is a free event!  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 [email protected] with any accessibility questions. 
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Photos Courtesy Bill Olexy

About Docomomo US/MN Series of Going, Going, Gone! Tours:

Docomomo US/MN seeks to highlight Mid-Century Modern properties across Minnesota as they become available for sale, or may be threatened by demolition. The Going, Going, Gone! series of tours are pop-up events that attempt to connect sensitive Modernist properties with good stewards for the next generation of preservation and adaptation. If you are the owner of a mid-century home, a real estate agent or neighbor of a notable property – please let us know if there is a site that should be included on a future tour, or added to the MN Modern Registry!