MC05
Renovation and combination of a one-bedroom unit with a two-bedroom unit in Bertrand
Goldberg’s Marina City complex.
MAS Studio and Future Firm with Ellipsis Architecture
The 2,000-sf unit, the combination of a one-bedroom unit with a two-bedroom unit, is designed for a gallerist and art collector. The goal was to seamlessly connect the two units, respecting the original qualities by Goldberg and restoring as many elements as possible, while creating a home where the owner could display his collection of furniture and art, and celebrate the views to the city.
The renovation focused on two aspects. The first was to restore many of the original qualities and elements of the units. The combination of units allowed a unique view of several structural bays, creating a connected sequence of spaces. All the walls, doors, and frames were stripped of decades of paint and then skim coated, highlighting the structural elements through the original reveals. New black terrazzo flooring was installed across the combined units, matching the color of the original floor tiles and allowing for differentiation of the kitchen areas. The aluminum terrazzo divider strips were placed in specific locations to highlight the structural elements. Bathroom areas were completely rebuilt using glass mosaic tiles custom-blended to match the original yellow and blue color schemes. Original light fixtures across the new unit were refinished and connected with new “smart” technology, allowing for all the lighting to be controlled remotely and programmed to transition color temperature throughout the day.
In the two “Mix-Or-Match Colors” GE kitchens, the metal cabinets were refinished to match the original and period-correct colors: Woodtone Brown and Avocado. During the renovation, a set of original GE “cabinettes” were found in another unit in the building and incorporated into the design. An original oven and cooktop were refurbished, while new built-in dishwashers and refrigerators were fitted with panels built to match the color and profile of the cabinets, blending seamlessly. New stainless-steel pulls for the dishwasher, and refrigerator / freezer were cast to match the original oven pull profile.
The second aspect that the project focused on was taking advantage of the intersection of the two units to introduce an entirely unique programmatic element, the new bathroom-den area. The bathroom layout is organized to include a large soaking tub surrounded by a hand-made green glazed tile surface that includes two levels to accommodate a step and a bench. The former bedroom that now spatially connects both units becomes a reconfigurable, social den with a custom-designed banquette and ottomans. Bathroom and den are visually connected through a custom-designed folding walnut screen, the same material of the banquette. On the one hand, the screen allows the separation of the spaces, and on the other, it opens to allow views to the city skyline from the inside of the bathroom. Bathroom tiles and banquette cushions create a new datum, establishing a spatial connection between two unusual adjacencies.
Info
Location: River North, Chicago
Client: Withheld
Progress/Year: Completed, 2025
Team
Builder: KnK Renovation
Team: MAS Studio and Future Firm with Ellipsis Architecture
Millwork: Zak Rose, -ism Furniture
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info@future-firm.org
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