Integrated just in face of Dearborn Station, in the core of Chicago City, this building recreates
an intimate space for living surrounded by tall buildings. The architect imagined a low floor for
commercial use and developed the program for his own two-floor house on top of it.
The rhythm created in the façade to simulate a traditional window assimilates its perception to
that of the traditional heavy masonry walls of the rest of the volume, and the huge, glazed
curtain wall behind is only revealed when backlit, thanks to its visual permeability. This
checkerboard pattern screen of black tiles in two sizes gives enough intimacy to the interior
private rooms, including its relationship with the pool, and completes the clever play of
full/empty inside/outside volumes intended by the architect.
The use of Fabrik by Flexbrick in the façade of the building allows the integration with the
surrounding buildings while still allowing the use of curtain walls, now in prosecution in the
area due to its environmental costs. The sunscreen not only seems to make completely
disappear that glass surface and provides the sun control needed for environmental purposes
but also helps to create the impression of a massive volume, that indeed is very light, by
passively filtering the sun, but also at the same time provides appropriate control to the
intimacy and the views.