Metamorphosis

Riverwoods, Illinois, In Progress

Riverwoods, Illinois, In Progress, Residential

Bring the Outdoors In

Strict floodplain regulations prohibited new construction on their lot, but the renovation budget exceeded the cost of building new. We explored a ‘both-and’ solution. We designed a new home to sit on top of the existing concrete foundation.

To maintain privacy and openness to a beautifully landscaped yard, we opened up the first floor to the outdoors and encased the second floor in a wood skin. Rather than punching openings through the wood skin as holes, the skin opened in key locations, alternating opaque and transparent.