Searl Lamaster Howe Architects: The defining characteristic of this house is its contextual responsiveness. While contemporary in expression, it relates to its location in Chicago's leafy Lincoln Square neighborhood. in a number of ways. Its scale aligns with the surrounding century-old houses.
The generous front porch repeats a common detail of the block and serves as a spot to hangout and socialize with neighbors. The exterior’s board and batten siding was inspired by the wood cladding of other frame houses in the district.
image © Cynthia Lunn
While the site had many advantages, one contextual constraint was the pair of large houses that hug the property. These structures prompted the pulling of sunlight into the interior in innovative ways without compromising privacy. An exterior atrium cuts into the core of the house bringing light into what normally would be its darkest parts. The atrium footprint is evoked in a double height space that houses the staircase and it is topped with a series of skylights that flood the space with light on even the cloudiest of days.
Clerestory windows appear at multiple locations including on the west side of the kitchen where they perfectly frame the view of a large birch tree and provide a wash of light along the surface of the ceiling at sunset. A slight tinting on the south facing windows minimizes solar heat gain at the back of the house while the same tint on the street facing windows enhances privacy.
Despite the expanses of glass, the house far surpasses energy standards due to a number of features. A carefully calibrated mix of seven types of insulation optimizes thermal performance. Motorized dampers reduce energy costs and increase comfort. The neighborhood, with its direct links to public transportation, plethora of services, and its extreme walkability embraces the best aspects of urban living.
image © Cynthia Lunn
What were the key challenges?
One key challenge was bringing light into the home without sacrificing privacy. This was a key issue since the neighboring houses are just feet away. Clerestory windows, a series of skylights, strategically placed conventional windows, and a central atrium were used to achieve the objective. Another key challenge was honoring the scale of the neighboring houses while allowing for extra high ceilings in the kitchen and family room. By locating these rooms at the back of the house and lowering them down 2.5’ feet from the main level, an appropriate scale for the house street side was possible.
What was the brief?
We were called upon by a young active family to design a serene, casual, refined house that was responsive to its neighborhood context, unfussy, unexpected, and light filled yet private.
