The Dayton-Burnet House on Ferndale Road

A Modernist Landmark on Ferndale Road, Wayzata

Few homes on Lake Minnetonka embodied the convergence of modern design, artistic vision, and site-specific architecture quite like the Dayton-Burnet House. Located along Ferndale Road in Wayzata, this residence was commissioned in 1970 by Kenneth and Judy Dayton and stood as a striking example of late modernist design until its demolition in 2016. Though gone, the home's architectural legacy endures through documentation, photography, and the stories of those who experienced it.

Designed by Romaldo Giurgola

The Daytons, heirs to the Dayton-Hudson retail empire (and later Target Corporation), were looking for more than a home. After purchasing a Ferndale Road property that featured a Colonial Revival-style mansion, the couple experienced several unsettling incidents that left them ready for a new vision. They demolished the original structure and began an ambitious search for a modern architect who could create something worthy of the lakefront setting and their growing art collection.

After interviewing figures such as Philip Johnson and Kevin Roche, they selected a then-little-known architect: Romaldo Giurgola, a partner in the Philadelphia-based firm Mitchell/Giurgola. Giurgola, originally from Italy, had recently completed the Wright Brothers Memorial Visitor Center in North Carolina. The Daytons saw potential in the proportional clarity and geometric sensibility of the sketch Giurgola presented early in the design process.

Once engaged, Giurgola responded with a plan that centered on a 24-foot-high cube-shaped living room. From that cube, angular forms radiated outward in what some later described as a precursor to postmodern deconstructivism. The home was constructed from salt cedar and painted white, blending natural materials with a bold, sculptural presence on the site.

Landscape by Dan Kiley, History Beneath

The house was carefully integrated into its setting with the help of renowned landscape architect Dan Kiley. Kiley’s landscape plan preserved natural lines of sight to the lake and incorporated a remarkable feature: a Native American burial mound estimated to be more than 2,000 years old. This connection between the distant past and a distinctly modern home added a unique, contemplative layer to the site.

From above, the home resembled a geometric composition. The central cube anchored the living room, while a variety of smaller structures extended outward at precise angles. This plan was inspired by classical ratios such as the golden mean (5:8), a subtle detail embedded in the home’s spatial logic.

Art, Privacy, and Legacy

Inside, the home was designed to elevate and display art. The Daytons filled its walls with modern pieces—Jasper Johns, Helen Frankenthaler, Ellsworth Kelly. After living there for 26 years, they sold the property in 1997 to Ralph and Peggy Burnet, friends who shared their passion for design and contemporary art.

The Burnets brought new energy and a different collection: Young British Artists including Damien Hirst, Rachel Whiteread, and Tracey Emin. The home’s clean white walls and restrained floor plan allowed it to function as both residence and private gallery.

Demolition and Reflection

The Dayton-Burnet House was demolished in 2016, just four years short of the 50-year age required for historical designation. That year also marked the death of Romaldo Giurgola’s mother—an uncanny coincidence noted by some close to the family.

Today, the home lives on through photographs, plans, and narratives. It was included in several architectural publications and is referenced in academic research on modernism in residential design. Its story continues to anchor Ferndale Road in the broader conversation about Lake Minnetonka’s architectural heritage.

Image watermarking statement

Some images and architectural materials related to the Dayton-Burnet House may contain discreet watermarking. These watermarks are included not to claim ownership over public or historical works, but to preserve context and honor the time invested in researching and curating these materials.

Bibliography (Chicago Style)

Beier, Brendan. Romaldo Giurgola and Mitchell/Giurgola Associates: A Philadelphia School Practice. Master’s thesis, University of Pennsylvania, 2006.

Frampton, Kenneth, and David Larkin. American Masterworks: The Twentieth-Century House. New York: Rizzoli, 1995.

Giurgola, Romaldo, and Jaimini Mehta. Louis I. Kahn. Boulder: Westview Press, 1975.

Goldberger, Paul. “A New View of Domestic Architecture.” The New York Times Magazine, May 18, 1975.

Hammel, Bette. Legendary Homes of Lake Minnetonka. Minneapolis: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2007.

Kiley, Dan, and Jane Amidon. Dan Kiley: The Complete Works of America's Master Landscape Architect. New York: Monacelli Press, 1999.

Minnetonka Historical Society. Ferndale Highlands Collection. Accessed 2025. Archival document, local history files.

Parsons, Aaron. Modern Homes in Wayzata: Architectural Evolution on Lake Minnetonka. Presentation, Lake Minnetonka Historical Society, 2025.