Chicago has frequently been described as a city of neighborhoods, and also among the most desirable neighborhoods is Lincoln Park, just over 2 miles north west of the Loop. The neighborhood’s proximity to the lake is certainly desirable, but is the older, low-scale building stock, composed of residential and other building types. The Mid-North Residence, as Vinci | Hamp Architects call it, is the transformation of a 19th-century business building into a massive home oriented around a courtyard. Let’s have a tour of the home, from the outside in.
in a Glance
Who lives here: A household of 5
Location: Chicago
Size: 9,100 square feet of living room
That is intriguing: The repurposed building was once a barn (circa 1875), later employed as a dairy distribution center and then art galleries and studios.
Vinci | Hamp Architects
The brick exterior exudes Chicago: It is solid and has some decoration but isn’t overly flashy. The reuse of this building and its new function are signaled by the new door and transom on the right.
Minus this altitude and a facade on the narrow street around the corner, most of the present exterior had to be taken down and rebuilt. From the architects created a modern residence that has a conversation with all the historic aspects of the site.
Vinci | Hamp Architects
The wood door and opaque sidelight do not show what lies behind the doorway, however, the transom helps bring light into the entrance space.
Upon opening the door, one is confronted with the courtyard, the heart of the house.
Vinci | Hamp Architects
At the back of this courtyard is exactly what was the three-story barn — the one-story entrance dates to 1900 and was a commercial space for its dairy center — and left is a one-story volume, also a part of the 1900 building. The volume that is taller is located on the north side of their house, so this space receives plenty of sunlight.
The giraffe was bought from sculptor John Kearney, the house’s tenant from 1950 to 2007. The artist is known for its Tin Man in neighboring Oz Park. I recall seeing his”steel bumper” sculptures in the region, even a giraffe peering over a fence, even when I lived in Lincoln Park.
Vinci | Hamp Architects
The ground-floor plan and north-south building section help with orientation as we move in the home. The entrance is in the left, as is south; north is on the right. An open living area includes the area on the west, the very best area of the plan. Atop the kitchen, dining room, garages and other spaces on the right are four bedrooms (second floor) and also the master suite (third floor) — those floor plans are available here.
Vinci | Hamp Architects
This view within the courtyard demonstrates how open the home is toward it. The ground floor has sliding glass walls linking inside and out, the stair core has plenty of glass facing south, and a set of terraces around the second and third floor face the courtyard as well.
Vinci | Hamp Architects
The living room, which occupies the west side of this courtyard, is an easy, open space divide into two zones with a big stone fireplace. Though the space is simple, there are some things which are very smart: Clerestory windows face the street on the west, leading to light while preserving privacy, and the ceiling along the walkway is lower compared to the adjacent ceiling, responding to the incline of the roof but also helping to further define the distances.
Vinci | Hamp Architects
Going north along the walkway, one arrives in the stair that connects all 3 levels. The company of John Vinci and Philip Hamp is well versed in stair layout; the group really inserted an older Mies van der Rohe stair within their layout of the Arts Club of Chicago. The stair seems to magically float — free of visible supports at this degree. The glass guardrails and open risers keep the space in the back of the home very open.
Vinci | Hamp Architects
Past the stair and family room of the previous photo is the kitchen, a huge space with two islands and a huge table toward the courtyard.
Vinci | Hamp Architects
As previously mentioned, most of the spaces are oriented toward the courtyard, like the eating area in the kitchen. Very wonderful.
Vinci | Hamp Architects
On the second floor, the stairs bring you to a huge terrace that also overlooks the courtyard.
Vinci | Hamp Architects
And on the next floor are more terraces, one serving the master suite. Cutouts in the roofing help bring even more light to the chambers set back.
Vinci | Hamp Architects
This view from the next floor indicates the orientation of all spaces beneath the courtyard, in addition to how the building works: The entrance is outside, the living room (with a fireplace and fireplace ) is at right, and also the second-floor terrace is in the foreground. Vinci, Hamp and group in nature have produced a self-contained globe for your household.
Vinci | Hamp Architects
As in the living room and kitchen, the finishes in the upstairs bedrooms are absolutely minimal. Nevertheless as this children’s room tips at, the spaces are a canvas to your household’s things. The method by which is carried through to the bunk bed rail and ladder is really a wonderful touch.
Vinci | Hamp Architects
The bathroom comprises the various finishes and materials located in the home: stone, wood and white. In the old brick structures, Vinci | Hamp Architects has crafted something resolutely modern.