Chicago, Historical Landmark Home
Role
Architecture
Interior Design
Cabinetry & Furniture Design
Landscape Design
Fine Art
Photography
James Prinz Photography
The most challenging projects can spark the greatest creativity.
To move forward with the purchase of this Historical Landmark Home, my clients wanted to know if the existing 2 bedroom, 1 bath floor plan could be successfully converted into a new 3 bedroom, 2 bath floor plan—and I had just a couple of days to find out!
To increase the difficulty level, a small floor plan which aligned with the vaulted ceilings and skylights would have to be reconfigured, adding more rooms with no increase in the floor area. Furthermore, the existing ceilings and skylights could not be changed.
Decades of experience visualizing in 3D while thinking in 2D allowed me to design a compelling layout that not only met the functional requirements but also sparked the client's imagination about the possibilities for this space.
Set in an urban neighborhood, this charming home has a historical landmark status only for the exterior architecture, which allowed for significant modifications to the internal design.
My client wanted the home to reflect their love for the outdoors: an airy, calm space with as much natural light as possible and a more immersive connection to nature.
These qualities exemplify biophilic design experiences and attributes.
By removing walls and creating a large opening between the kitchen and dining area on the main level, my design allowed natural light to reach deeper into the home. This new layout created a new line of sight from the front living room all the way back, where floor to ceiling windows faced the beautiful courtyard garden.
I also replaced solid doors with glass ones to further enhance the natural light and strengthen the visual connection to the garden.
The more complex second floor features multi-intersecting vaulted ceilings with skylights, each aligned with the corresponding areas of the floor plan. My new concept made this architectural condition feel intentional, seamlessly integrating it with the new floor plan.
Utilizing the concept of interior light wells found in historical apartment buildings, I generated a design that allowed natural light to permeate the interior of the house by sharing the light. By adding clerestory windows in between rooms, the skylight in one space could illuminate a space without natural light, all while preserving privacy.
I incorporated numerous biophilic design attributes such as natural materials—white oak flooring, stone fireplace surrounds and countertops, wood cabinetry and furniture, metal and wood railings.
Nature’s colors, textures and shapes are reflected in the wall finishes, curvilinear furniture, and the natural fibers and textures of rugs and fabrics.
Lastly, I designed several pieces of furniture and created one of the paintings—in the main ensuite—for situations that called forth something unique.
