PRIVATE ROWHOUSE
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 1997
Within a landmark rowhouse in Chicago’s near north side, an interior is transformed into a museum-caliber series of simple modern spaces. The space is developed as a series of planes, each with a high quality finish.
In order to establish the character for the three levels, each floor plane was rendered in a unique natural material. The earthen lower level was floored with a British slate, whose rich texture and cool colors compliment the existing common brick walls. For the formal first floor, a quartersawn maple floor was laid between the existing plaster walls. For the private quarters of the upper floor, a wool carpet woven in a sisal-like pattern was laid over a newly poured radiant floor topping.
Having been gutted in the 1970’s, the building’s only original details were casings and surrounds for the windows and doors. These details of the original shell were painstakingly restored both as a homage to the original architecture as well a visual counterpoint to the new interventions.
Photos by William Kildow. General Contractor was H. R. Johnson Brothers.
Main Level
Looking toward the rear. Fireplace to the right. Central stair to the left.
Garden Level
View looking toward central stair. Entry cabinet at left
View from Deck
View from the new rear deck at dusk.
Kitchen
Ribbon Mahogany cabinets slide above stainless steel counters. New steel window wall in the background.
Kitchen
An oblique view of the kitchen.
Stair Detail
Solid quartersawn maple treads mortised into custom steel stringer
Stair, Upper Landing
Detail of the stair at the upper level landing illustrating the cable rails and solid maple handrail.
Stair Detail
Flush inset top tread of stair at top landing.
Railing Detail
View of the underside of the stair tread illustrating the connection of the baluster to a flush mortised metal plate.
Garden Level Bath
Stainless steel fixtures are used throughout the bath.
Lavatory
Custom fabricated steel lavatory
