Old Town Modern by dSPACE Studio
This Old Town home located in Chicago, Illinous was designed in 1972 by Bruce Graham, architect of the Sears Tower. The exterior had deteriorated beyond repair and the interior needed a floor plan to accommodate the client’s lifestyle, including flexible space for parties up to 100 people.
Description by dSPACE Studio
The design direction was to restore the exterior in accordance with landmark guidelines, open the interior, and increase natural light while respecting existing architecture. Program requirements included 4-bedrooms/3.5-baths (original was 3-bedrooms/3-baths), two bars, new kitchen, spa-like bathrooms, and a landscaped yard with a strong connection to interior space.
The entire home was reconstructed. On the exterior, new rough-cut cedar siding was selected to exactly match original specs.
The floor plan was reimagined around an existing two-story atrium with a glass roof. Interior walls were moved and new herringbone wood flooring unifies the open space. We relocated the original fireplace to a side wall, expanding views of the garden, and added a sculptural 18 ft surround of hand-selected Kenya Black marble from Italy. This marble was also used for artful detailing in the entry, atrium, and dining areas.
The original steel staircase, inspired by a Mies van der Rohe design for the Arts Club of Chicago, was restored. It leads to a master suite, created from the original family room. A lofted media space, created from former storage space, has a new glass railing system offering views to the atrium and living room below.
Photography by Tony Soluri
- by Matt Watts
