Gordon
Conceived as a retreat for a couple seeking respite from the urban intensity of Chicago, the Gordon Residence is an exploration of architectural harmony with its natural setting.
Size
-
Location
Chicago
Project Team
Vellum Architects
Design Team
Osada Construction, Site Works Studios, Amarx Homes
Completed
2022
Category
Residential
Design Intent
The design responds to the clients' desire for a slower pace of life and a deeper connection to the outdoors.
The primary objective was to create a dwelling that dissolves boundaries between interior and exterior environments, fostering a continuous dialogue with the surrounding landscape. The home’s architectural language balances modern simplicity with regional materials, offering a contemporary interpretation of mountain living.
Spatial Organization
The home is organized to support long-term habitation, with the primary living spaces — including the primary bedroom suite — located on the main level to accommodate aging in place.
The scale of the house follows the natural topography of the site, presenting a modest, single-story volume from the street while cascading down the rear slope into a three-story massing. This sectional strategy minimizes the home’s visual impact on the neighborhood while maximizing its relationship to the landscape.
Materiality and Expression
The exterior palette combines locally sourced stone with composite siding, striking a balance between contemporary expression and contextual sensitivity.
The outdoor living room, conceived as the heart of the home, is framed by an exposed timber structure that lends warmth and tactility to the composition. This space is open and screened on three sides, allowing for immersive engagement with the surrounding woodlands while maintaining a sense of shelter and enclosure.
Indoor-Outdoor Continuity
A primary design gesture is the seamless flow between interior and exterior spaces.
Large sliding glass doors extend the Living Room out onto the covered outdoor living area, anchored by a substantial stone fireplace that serves as both a visual and functional focal point. The outdoor living area becomes a threshold between the built and natural environments, offering a year-round space for gathering and reflection.
Programmatic Distribution
The upper level contains two guest suites, providing privacy and separation for visitors.
The lower level is dedicated to recreational and auxiliary functions, including a media room, home gym, and a generously sized wine cellar. This vertical organization allows the more public and communal spaces to maintain direct relationships with the landscape, while more private and utilitarian functions are embedded within the hillside.
The Gordon Residence articulates a vision of modern mountain living, where architecture mediates between human habitation and the rhythms of the natural environment. Through its sensitive massing, material palette, and emphasis on spatial continuity, the home provides a refuge that balances comfort, beauty, and enduring connection to place.
