Landmark Penthouse, Chicago
City residence in a landmark modernist building for a couple with an interest in collecting modernist design.
One half of the top floor, in a landmark lakefront high-rise designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, this penthouse apartment was purchased to be a backdrop for the clients' collections of modern art and important vintage design. With walls of glass, the city and water views are dramatic and ever-changing; a vibrant downtown home for new "empty-nesters."
The project scope included a complete renovation of kitchen and bathrooms, expansion of the master closets, and updating of all interior finishes. A den was also added, and taking advantage of the top floor access to the roof, a custom fireplace was added. Development of the new plan and design direction included supervision of the architectural and kitchen design teams.
In the interest of having a light, open space which would respond to the changing sky, a color palette was developed using subtle shades of gray that relate to the surrounding glass, steel and stone. Many examples of important design in the client's collection were added with site-specific concerns in mind, including pieces by Andrea Branzi, Ettore Sottsass, Gio Ponti, Erik Levy, Ingo Maurer and Cini Boeri.