Chicago, Illinois

This suburban Chicago residence in a heavily wooded setting opens outward through corner glazing, asymmetrical massing, and oversailing eaves, to respond to the sun and surrounding views.

This home provides spaces for gracious entertaining as well as intimate family life.

Internal spaces freely communicate horizontally and vertically. The essential character of this house arises from the challenges of a steeply sloped site. The main living floor (family, living, dining, and kitchen) is at ground level. Children's bedrooms are on the second floor. A walkout master bedroom suite is at the lower third of the copper drum, taking advantage of the site as it slopes down towards the ravine.

The street front provides a domestic face with living and dining rooms anchored by a large brick chimney/fireplace. Walk-through windows provide generous natural lighting. Second-floor balconies overlook the intimate family, den, dining, and living spaces at the entry floor level.

The spatial layering, fenestration, and built-in furnishings are carefully articulated and read from the interior to the exterior. This detailing is used with numerous variations throughout, from the copper-clad windows at the exterior to cherry trim and built-ins on the interior.

Principal exterior materials are copper and brick. The Copperhouse is designed utilizing passive solar technologies to make it inherently energy efficient. A copper-clad roof-monitor is used to provide enhanced natural ventilation. The south facing masonry chimney serves as a heat sink. Overhangs are configured appropriately for sun angles.