Lake Shore Drive Residence

2011 Chicago Illinois

Tom Bader, Project Principal with Wheeler Kearns Architects

Sharlene Young Project Architect and lead designer (founder of Symbiotic Living)

Located in Chicago, this single family residence on Lake Shore Drive opens directly onto the parkway with unobstructed views of Lake Michigan.

The house takes its form from its site; the base of the residence is rendered as a solid mass, forming a plinth that grounds the house on its prominent corner location. The plinth is carved into and becomes more open towards the lake side of the house. An interlocking volume that rises from the plinth reinforces the opening toward the lake; as the volume springs from the plinth, a double-high aperture is created that provides an expansive view from the living room towards Lake Michigan.

The split-level plan creates spaces of various scales and experiences that share in the east view towards the park and lake.