CLEVELAND STREET RESIDENCE
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 2005
Located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, this three-story single family residence was conceived as a courtyard house surrounding a south-facing raised stone patio. A landscaped rear yard, also raised to the level of the first floor, abuts a garage with a rooftop deck connected to the hard by a half flight of stairs.
The punched openings of the understated facade are repeated around the courtyard, allowing daylight to penetrate the surrounding rooms. The formal front wing accommodates the foyer and living room while informal rear wing houses the kitchen and family room. The center volume houses the formal dining room which is flanked to the north by a small landscaped court.
The textures of the moulded clay brick, french limestone paving, hand seamed tin/zinc coated copper roofing, and scraped wood floors counter the machined quality of the neatly tailored steel window walls, flush sycamore cabinetry, and stone counters. The subdued tones of the exterior walls and the inset sloping roof belie the mass of the house from the street.
Photos by Barbara Karant. General Contractor was BGD&C. Interiors by Leslie Jones Associates. System Integration by Baumeister Electronic Architects.
Front Facade
Steel windows are deeply set in the brick facade. Low wing walls conceal a lowered walled garden and entry steps.
Courtyard
Glass and steel doors allow passage from the french limestone paved courtyard to the surrounding rooms.
Deck
A central fireplace anchors the garage rooftop, outfitted with weathered teak decking.
Deck
An ipe trellis and wood bench encircle the deck on three sides. Adjacent planters provide a footing for the climbing plants.
Rear Yard
Steps to the north of the family room doors ascend to the roof deck. The raised yard is to the left.
Courtyard
A buxy french limestone table occupies the central courtyard surrounded by cast bronze chairs designed by Gene Summers.
Entry
The entry steps are flanked by low brick walls with sandblasted black granite copings and custom cast bronze handrails.
Pool
The lower level pool is surrounded by buxy french limestone paving. A teak slat screen beyond conceals mechanical equipment.
Pool
Pawabic tiles clad the back wall, which is lit from above.
Kitchen
Clerestory windows atop the cabinets to the east allow daylight to penetrate to the center of the kitchen.
Family
Occupying the informal rear wing, the family room enjoys abudant daylight from from two sides.
Dining
The central dining room opens directly to the central courtyard to the south.
Living Room
Anchoring the formal front wing, the living room also enjoys daylight from two exposures.
Attic
Plaster vaults clad the underside of the sloped roof of the attic story.
Second Floor Hall
English sycamore cabinetry flank the stair ascending to the attic story.
Stair
Hand cast bronze tapered balusters were brazed on site to a custom cast bronze handrail. Treads and risers are fabricated from buxy french limestone.
Stair
Seen through the transluscent glass of the front entry vestibule doors, the stairs ascend to the second level.
