MOHAWK STREET RESIDENCE
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 2004
Two opposing U-shaped masonry walls enclose a new three-story residence in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood. In contrast to neighboring buildings, the rear and front entries are quietly introduced into the daylit slots between the nesting walls, leaving only sun-bleached teak windows to mark the facades.
The northern wall encircles intimate single-height spaces while its counterpart encloses double height social spaces to the south. The open plan of the first floor affords ample light to all interior spaces. The upper floors accommodate four bedrooms which surround a daylit open stair.
The rear garden terraces up and over a hidden garage. A concrete retaining wall returns into the garden and culminates in a rudimentary fireplace, itself an extruded U-shape.
Photos by Barbara Karant; General Contractor was Norcon, Inc.
Facade
The facade is comprised of a warm palette of moulded brick and naturally weathering teak.
Looking Up
The entry slot is created by the nesting U-shaped masonry walls.
Approach
A generous walk, flanked by a bluestone bench, leads to the discreet front entry.
Entry
The weathered teak canopy over the at-grade entry provides cover and night-time lighting.
Entry Hall
Seen as wainscotting from the open living room, a mahogany cabinet greets visitors entering at grade.
Living Room
Mahogany shutters are inset within the frames of the wood windows in the living room.
Library
A view of the double height library from the entry door.
Upper Library
A transluscent glass catwalk provides access to the second floor of library shelving.
Stair
A vertical window wall silouhettes the winding oak stair outfitted with a Shaker-inspired continuous handrail.
Family Room
The double-height family room, with a two-story window wall to the west, is anchored by a central fireplace. Hand crafted bronze doors flank the fireplace and conceal firewood and audio visual equipment.
Family Room
The exterior concrete fireplace can be seen through the rear window wall.
Rear Garden
With a soon-to-be private perimeter of white pines, the rear garden terraces to expand the exterior garden while concealing the garage below.
Rear Facade at Dusk
A view of the rear facade at dusk, with the uplit ash tree in the foreground.
Rear Entry
An ash tree marks the center of the rear garden. The rear at-grade entry, located in the "slot"of the nested masonry walls, is to the right.
First Floor Plan
A view of the first floor plan. Note the inset photo, depicting the parti, to the right in the bottom margin.
Model View
A view of the presentation model from the southeast.
Model View
A view of the presentation model from the southwest.
