City House 2.0
Chicago, Illinois
2016
This 1978 modernist home in Chicago’s Lincoln Park was recently purchased by a family of three. Originally custom designed for a larger family, the new owners sought out Booth Hansen to re-envision the Lincoln Park residence to suit their needs and lifestyle. Above all, they desired a peaceful and light filled retreat from busy city life. This goal resulted in a major renovation with additions to the façade and rear yard.
Sited in a Landmark District, the proportions and scale of this renovated Lincoln Park residence align contextually with the surrounding structures, while exuding an airy quality typically not found in Chicago rowhomes. A new glass bay window on the home’s street facade maximizes natural light infiltration and opens views to landscaped scenes. The rear of the home enjoys a connection to nature: the main living space opens to a gently sloping Japanese-inspired garden and terrace which conceals the garage beneath.
The minimalist interior was designed as a backdrop for the enhanced exterior. Clean lines and a limited color palette accentuate the judicious use of highly veined marble. A sculptural stair with minimal glass railings floats from floor to floor allowing light to penetrate the interior spaces from an oculus above. The conversion of the roof into an outdoor room provides a quiet space in the tree tops.
Two offset linear masses linked by a light-filled kitchen contain living and sleeping spaces respectively. The courtyards that result from this configuration are extensions of the interior spaces, made accessible by the operable glass facade that brings natural light and ventilation in. Deep roof overhangs and the relocation of existing olive trees provide shade to all glass exposures. An infinity-edge pool reinforces the floating roof lines. Views are caught in reflections off the glass and water, changing with every shift in perspective and passing hour. A forty-two foot long painting brings natural themes and colors indoors as it stretches across the living spaces. With its clean lines and limited palette, the home serves as a backdrop for the panoramic views and owners’ art collection.
The project presented an opportunity to restore the native desert landscape that had been disrupted by lawn from a previous development. The home’s mindful footprint preserves existing drought-tolerant vegetation on approximately sixty percent of the site. The structural system maximizes the use of wood, thereby relying on local materials and labor. A Palm Springs craftsman produced the custom thin-profile window system.
2016 Gold Nugget Awards - Grand Award for Best Custom Home