Rooted in memory yet oriented toward the future, the clients of the Glenview Residence sought to reimagine their cherished family property with a new home to support their next chapter of life.
Significant site constraints shaped the project’s planning. A wedge-shaped lot, floodplain restrictions at the rear, and strict zoning requirements limited the buildable area and necessitated a zoning variance. In response, the design employs a clear organizational strategy that maximizes light, views, and a sense of openness within a compact footprint.
From the street, the house reads as a crisp, contemporary cube, carefully proportioned to fit within the scale of neighboring homes. Thin patterned gray porcelain panels wrap the upper floor, behind which the roof is carved away at three corners to create discreet, light-filled balconies off the upper-floor bedrooms. Corner-wrapping black metal windows reinforce the building’s lightness, while floor-to-ceiling glazing on the first floor opens the public spaces to the landscape. A textured, paneled garage of smaller-format horizontal tiles sits flush with the façade, grounding the composition.
Designed for first-floor living, the house supports aging in place while providing generous spaces for gathering, connection, and engagement with the surrounding landscape—including a beloved backyard pickleball court that sees daily use in good weather. The first-floor primary bedroom suite is designed for long-term accessibility, while a street-facing office provides a quiet workspace with a connection to the neighborhood.
The interior material palette supports a neutral field for artwork, composed of earthen porcelain floor tiles, light-colored wall panels, and warm oak stair treads. At the center of the home, a sculptural floating stair ascends to the second-floor Gallery Hall, where a roof pop-up with clerestory windows floods a central gathering space with daylight. Behind flush wall-panel doors, four bedrooms pinwheel around the light-filled gallery, each opening into a quiet, private retreat.
A single-story glass volume at the rear projects from the main cube, its floor-to-ceiling glazing opens the family room, dining room, and kitchen to the rear yard including an exterior entertaining patio. Beyond the patio, a gently terraced landscape flows down to the backyard and pickleball court with the North Branch of the Chicago River at the west boundary.
Carefully scaled and thoughtfully detailed, the home invites the clients into new ways of living, offering a fresh beginning in the community they cherished and never wanted to leave.
Additional Images
Architecture: Wheeler Kearns Architects
Construction Manager: Tom Meyer
Structural Engineer: Enspect Engineering
MEP Engineer: Tom Meyer / BES Engineering
Photography: Tom Harris