Oakdale Apartment

Chicago, Illinois

 

After a fruitless search for a new home, the owners decided to renovate their existing apartment in a historically significant early 1950's midrise. The unit features concrete ceiling and floor slabs and the original 1954 aluminum and glass curtain wall. The design challenge was to create an interior that was sympathetic to the architecture of the existing building while accommodating the owner's requirements.

 

White oak panels in the dining area swing open to reveal a discreet bar space for entertaining. A cantilevered credenza in matching wood provides storage for china and accessories. Storage was dramatically enlarged throughout the unit. Both bathrooms and kitchen were renovated using white lacquer, quartz and terrazzo surfaces.

By removing a dividing wall, the dining area flows uninterrupted into the kitchen and breakfast area, providing city and lake views to the East and South. A new grey terrazzo floor was installed with metal divider strips centered on the five foot module of the existing window frames, replacing previously carpeted surfaces.

Original Floor Plan

2017 Floor Plan

The spatial flow of the apartment was improved by combining an interior kitchen with a study, opening up the space to natural light and lake views.

Credits

General Contractor: Goldberg General Contracting, Inc.

Mechanical Engineer: AA Service Company

Photographer: Tom Rossiter