Metal-clad house makes a strong statement in Chicago
Studio Dwell’s House 1909 makes a strong statement in Chicago’s historic neighbourhood of Bucktown
The historic Chicago neighbourhood of Bucktown lies to the north of the city centre, bisected by the I-90. Shaped by over a century of immigration by Europe and Central America, it is an architecturally diverse part of town that has inevitably been transformed by 21st-century gentrification. Grand Victorian houses are mixed with contemporary structures on vacant lots, together with modern condos and all the upscale commercial trappings of a district on the rise. Now, a sharp, metal-clad house has been added to the area’s collection of domestic offerings.
House 1909 was designed by Chicago’s Studio Dwell Architects for a slender plot alongside a mixed bag of traditionally styled brick houses.
The architects have made the most of the site by digging down to create a generous garden level, with three terraces on the floors above. They describe the structure as a ‘series of stacked metal-clad boxes’, sub-dividing each functional component into its own area.
At street level is the ‘public’ box, a fully glazed living and dining area that overlooks the street, providing views right through the house.
The main staircase is enclosed by balustrades of tall frameless glass, and exposed shuttered concrete anchors the space and provides a contrast to the brick walls of the adjacent house. This level is cantilevered out above the first floors, providing shade for the glass wall beneath it.
The second floor is the ‘private’ box, with only a single window to the street elevation. Two en-suite bedrooms open off a large landing, with a void through to the kitchen below.
Above this is the ‘green’ box, a self-contained ‘penthouse’ level with terraces front and rear, set back from the street to create a secluded suburban eyrie.
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
The programme was tight, even though it integrates a double garage and a generous amount of natural light from all directions. Although the materials include cor-ten steel, stone, the aforementioned concrete, and details in walnut wood, the bulk of the interior is white to maximise the spread of light.
Up on the penthouse level, where light is less of an issue, full-height sliding doors provide access to each deck, opening up the space in the summer to the views of the Chicago skyline.
Mark Peters founded Studio Dwell Architects in 2005. The small studio has won awards from the AIA and places an emphasis on rich materials and light-filled spaces, regardless of the scope and scale of the brief.
INFORMATION
Jonathan Bell has written for Wallpaper* magazine since 1999, covering everything from architecture and transport design to books, tech and graphic design. He is now the magazine’s Transport and Technology Editor. Jonathan has written and edited 15 books, including Concept Car Design, 21st Century House, and The New Modern House. He is also the host of Wallpaper’s first podcast.
-
Renault celebrates new R4 EV and electric mobility with TheArsenale and four French start-ups
Renault's '4 Movements' accompanied the R4 E-Tech at the 2024 Paris Motor Show; the clutch of sleek machines will bring innovative electrification to air, sea and water
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Floor lamps to brighten autumn nights
The best floor lamps and where to buy them: switch on to subtle lighting with our edit of elegant standing lamps for your home
By Ali Morris Published
-
Wu Tsang reinterprets Carmen's story in Barcelona
Wu Tsang rethinks Carmen with an opera-theatre hybrid show and a film installation, recently premiered at MACBA in Barcelona (until 3 November)
By Emily Steer Published
-
Populus by Studio Gang, the ‘first carbon positive hotel in the US’ takes root in Denver
Populus by Studio Gang opens in Denver, offering a hotel with a distinctive, organic façade and strong sustainability credentials
By Siska Lyssens Published
-
This Californian home offers the unexpected through ‘deconstructed’ desert living
Gardens & Villas, a home in La Quinta, California, brings contemporary luxury to its desert setting through a collaboration between architects Andrew McClure and Christopher McLean
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
First look inside 62 Reade Street, a clock factory turned family home
62 Reade Street, a boutique New York residential project by architects ODA, unveils its first apartment interior, styled courtesy of Hovey Design
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Paul Rudolph at The Met: ‘from Christmas lights to megastructures’
‘Materialized Space: The Architecture of Paul Rudolph’ opens at the Met in New York, exploring the modernist master's work through a feast of an exhibition
By Stephanie Murg Published
-
Jewel Box is a Californian project of small scale and big impact
Jewel Box by Red Dot Studio is the reimagining of a Californian 20th-century gem through a creative addition
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Germane Barnes exhibition explores notions of classical architecture and identity
Germane Barnes exhibition 'Columnar Disorder' opens at the Art Institute of Chicago
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Omaha’s Joslyn Art Museum's newest addition effortlessly complements the institution’s existing complex
The third addition to Joslyn Art Museum is designed by Snøhetta, which opted for voluminous common spaces and illuminating atriums
By Anthony Paletta Published
-
Morning Dove in Twentynine Palms combines earth construction and otherworldly desert views
Morning Dove by Homestead Modern in Twentynine Palms offers a striking landscape and rammed-earth construction for idyllic desert escapes
By Carole Dixon Published