Step Inside an Art-Packed Chicago Home by Robbins Architecture

As is outlined in Robbins’s recent book, The Meaningful Modern Home (Monacelli), modernism, when practiced well, lends itself to warm and livable spaces. “The style was actually founded on principles that are just about the opposite of what most people consider to be ‘modern,’” Robbins notes. Her firm puts this philosophy into practice by advocating for simpler plans, materiality, and detailing, creating spaces that are open and flexible, rather than overly prescribed, and allow for nature to take center stage.

On this sloping site in suburban Chicago, Robbins achieves this gentle balance between the natural and the built environment through a series of pitched- and flat-roofed volumes: the traditional pitched, shingled roofs pay respect to the context of the neighborhood while the aluminum-framed flat roofs and apertures introduce a sense of modernity. A long entry corridor spans the length of home’s street frontage, ensuring privacy while also setting up for the artful experience to come.

The gallery-like entry is punctuated by a series of floor-to-ceiling windows and deftly detailed wooden thresholds. On the walls, a long, horizontal portrait by Alex Katz sits opposite a patinated metal wall hanging by Theaster Gates. The hallway culminates in the first of a few notable corner window conditions throughout the dwelling, which was designed to accommodate a large marble bust by renowned Spanish artist Jaume Plensa. Here, Robbins creates a focal point around the sculpture by framing it in the context of the natural environment just beyond.

Upon entry into the main space—a large open plan kitchen, living, and dining room—the home’s deference to the natural world crystallizes. Light floods in through a sizable window wall, revealing a lush landscaped terrace around which the entirety of the home wraps. Here a single, delicate tree acts as a counterbalance to a neighboring stone sculpture by Israeli-American artist and sculptor, Boaz Vaadia, that appears to be keeping watch over the courtyard. Opposite the ample glazing in the great room, a second portrait by Alex Katz hangs over the custom dining table, which was sourced by local interior design firm, Andrea Goldman Design.

Tasked with creating sophisticated yet quiet interiors for this project, Goldman took a layered approach to the furnishings and fixtures, so as not to distract from the art. “It was all about the edit with this project,” Goldman recalls. Steering away from bold colors and patterns, the designer opted for a neutral yet textured palette. Subtle variations throughout the soft, organic furnishings coalesce as an artful composition of textiles. “We wanted the interior to have a warmth to it—it had to feel like a space they could truly live in—nothing like a museum or a commercial artspace,” Goldman adds.

Expanses of custom rift-sawn white oak millwork on the living room mantle and throughout the kitchen further contribute to this warmth and connect through to the secondary spaces: a primary suite, a den, and an office. “As empty nesters, the clients weren’t interested in walking past any rooms they never used,” says Robbins. This desire dictated the relatively simple floor plan, which organizes all of the main programming on one level that connects directly to the landscaped terrace. The only exceptions to this thinking are a series of small guest rooms tucked into the dwelling’s pitched roof overhead, and a unique, subterranean level that allows for a more traditional art-viewing experience.

In true gallery fashion, the bottom level is outfitted with polished concrete floors, white walls, and track lighting. Although this space is in direct contrast with the design philosophy of the rest of the residence, it serves an important purpose: due to the ultra controlled nature of this environment, the clients are able to display their impressive collection of light-sensitive works. Previously forced to keep the blinds drawn at all times, the clients now have the autonomy to freely enjoy the entirety of their collection, which includes vintage photographs by mid-century German artist Michael Wolf, and a bold, text-based painting by Mel Bochner.

All in all, this meticulously crafted estate seamlessly marries Robbins’s modernist philosophy with the couple’s extensive appreciation for art. From the striking entryway to the gallery-esque basement, the thoughtful detailing of each space creates an artful living experience worthy of the art collection. In a collaborative effort, Robbins Architecture and Andrea Goldman Design have afforded the clients an entirely new experience of their long-loved land in the Chicago area. As it turns out, their forever home was never very far away.