The Wolcott Project consisted of an approximately 2,500 square foot, 2-story, masonry building constructed in 1912. The floorplan of this building was a classic, Chicago-style layout with long, rectangular living spaces and bright sun rooms or “winter gardens” in the front of the units. Our scope included replacement of all utilities, a new roof, and new contemporary finishes throughout the building. Having resided in a single family home for the past 15 years, our client desired a new urban landscape to call home which also served as additional household income.
The primary challenge of this project was determining a modern, luxury kitchen design in each unit without removing the bedroom adjacent to each kitchen. These restrictions forced our team to think critically regarding functional utility – assessing the literal series of movements in the space to determine the optimal layout while affording contemporary luxury.
Conforming to a modern aesthetic also required respecting the original design of the building. Chicago 2-flats are an iconic structure in a city boasting rich architectural history. It was important that our final product not compete with history. Instead, it should enhance it. We navigated this paradox by maintaining the traditional layout and strategically selecting interior finishes.