Client:  Dr. Bruce Doblin, MD

Location:  Chicago, IL

Completion:  2002

*Work developed and completed with Joe Valerio.

Project Description:

This 8000sf industrial warehouse  conversion was gutted to all but its exterior masonry walls.  A wide-flange structural system was introduced to accomodate light-weight construction and also alluding to the buildings industrial roots.  The beams were composed to warp the roof into a hyperbolic plane.  This created low points over the service areas where drainage can occur and high points at the glazing to capture more light.

The configuation was planned to allow for both outdoor courtyards and a continuous open sunlit interiors.  Glass walls are employed to blurr the understanding of indoor and outdoor space and to unify the entire area as a constant singular space.

A concrete floor using hydronic heating warms the space in the cold months and also helps to unify the interior areas.  The only built walls occur in the lavatory areas for privacy and plumbing requirements.  The rest of the interior is an open floor space which can be replanned as often as one likes by composing various furniture elements into new configurations daily.

The use of steel clad airplane hangar doors at the facade continued the spirit of industry and allowed the occupant the flexibility to open to the street or to turn inward for a private indoor-outdoor retreat in the city.