New 4500 sq.ft. Chicago Penthouse

This 4,500 square foot penthouse arrived as we like it best: a pure concrete shell, offering total freedom of expression. With soaring 11' 6" ceilings throughout—interrupted only once at the entry to accommodate a necessary mechanical condition—the space presented a rare opportunity to craft a calm, architectural interior of clarity and restraint.

Working remotely with clients based in the south of France, we developed three distinct planning approaches. They selected the most restrained and modern scheme, a decision perfectly aligned with both the architecture and their exceptional collection of large scale contemporary art. From the outset, the ambition was clear: the residence would function not simply as a home, but as a refined, modernist gallery—one where art, material, and space are given equal weight.

Our parti was deliberately elemental. The perimeter rooms are wrapped in warm planes of oak, leather, and suede, while the building’s core is expressed in unfilled travertine—used seamlessly on both walls and floors—to create a sense of mass and permanence. Transitions between materials are marked with custom bronze double angle details, a recurring motif that brings precision and continuity throughout the space. Bronze is further employed structurally, framing translucent glass doors and defining the kitchen enclosure with a quiet sense of rigor.

The project extended beyond architecture and interiors. Through multiple trips to Paris, we collaborated closely with the clients to curate a collection of masterworks by Dupre Lafon, Ruhlmann, Adnet, Jean Michel Frank, and early pieces by Hervé Van der Straeten—each selected to resonate with the calm, museum like setting of the home.

The result is a penthouse defined by discipline, material honesty, and an unwavering focus on modernism—a residence conceived as both a living environment and a carefully composed experience of art and space.