Hyde Park Condo

Hyde Park is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Chicago, boasting a rich history filled with classic architecture from the 19th and early 20th centuries. This Hyde Park residence is an outstanding example of this style. Featuring over 2,500 square feet of space with sweeping views of Lake Michigan, this project is located in one of Hyde Park’s most prestigious high-rise buildings. Built in 1928, this unit had undergone limited renovations over the past century, still consisting of interior masonry walls, plaster and lathe, and subfloors cast in concrete. Currently residing abroad, our clients sought to retire from their careers in our world-class city of Chicago. The goal of this project was to create a home that our clients would enjoy for the decades to come – a space which would provide the history and visual interest that the fantastic architecture of Europe has afforded them for the majority of their lives.

This project began with the gut rehabilitation of the entire unit, the upgrade of existing utilities, and the installation of a high-velocity air conditioning system. Custom, plaster legacy mouldings throughout the unit were preserved and restored. A solid wood, custom arched entry door defining the Living Room and Dining Room was restored to serve its original purpose. Also original to the unit, wooden cornices and columns were revived and repurposed as focal points throughout the space.

The vision of this space was to pay homage to the classic architecture of the building, built in 1928, while incorporating contemporary pieces: Plaster crown moulding and black, Italian cabinetry; A cast iron soaking tub positioned on large format stone tiles; 6-piece wainscoting along the walls highlighting 10” planked hickory hardwood flooring… Hints of the past collaborating with nods to the future.

An unusual challenge of this project was long-distance coordination. In addition to maintaining an aggressive schedule for completion, our team identified methods to work remotely with our clients who continued to live in Europe during our project. One of our primary initiatives involved filming weekly video blogs to showcase and explain the progress of our ambitious undertaking.

Understanding the physical limitations of managing a project abroad, Integro coordinated our project schedule to accommodate finish materials from across the globe. The majority of these items required significant lead times of up to 20 weeks and other portions of our Work were sequentially related to the delivery of these finishes. Usually, the finish items accommodate our installations once the limitations of the residence are identified after demolition. This project required us to plan backwards. Our installations accommodated finishes, no exceptions. For example, the Italian cabinetry in the Kitchen was designed flush to the ceiling which provided no room for error in the floor height. This meant that we had to level the floors without raising their height and install our ¼” tiles with exactly ¼” of underlayment months after the cabinets were built and weeks prior to their arrival on site from Italy. The level of detail Integro contributed to this project is shown by the seamless transitions from classic to modern design throughout the rooms.

Our final product in the Hyde Park Condo provides a sensory experience throughout the space. Legacy mouldings grace the formal entry and guide your path to a recessed, oval ceiling custom built to invisibly accommodate the new HVAC system. Following dramatic views of Lake Michigan, the Living Room brings you to the fully restored arched entry into the Dining Room. No sooner is one inspired by the stately presence of century-old architecture, than the eye is briskly greeted by contemporary, black cabinetry complimenting professional-grade appliances in the Kitchen and a modern Powder Room showcasing a wall-mounted sink. The bedrooms, featuring built-in bookcases and polished copper radiators revived by the Integro team, lead directly into their private ensuite bathrooms accommodating luxurious soaking tubs, floating sinks, and sleek fixtures. Subtle and confident. Classic and contemporary. The Hyde Park Condo is now a space that is thoughtfully becoming an ambiance of elegant bravado.

Our work on the Hyde Park Condo received the Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago’s Platinum Award for Excellence.