Sky Vault

This penthouse overlooks Lincoln Park. The owner obtained 4,500 sf of raw space atop a luxury high-rise and wanted an open-plan contemporary residence that maximizes expansive city and lake views.

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The French-inspired building has a mansard roof with arched windows and vaulted ceilings. Influenced by these unalterable elements, the interior architecture expresses the vault detail in ceilings and doorways throughout. Arches offer dramatic space for the owner’s art collection and temper the impact of 14-foot ceilings.

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We combined contemporary details with traditional materials. A minimalist reveal is used in place of baseboards. Oversized oak flooring provides a modern reinterpretation of herringbone and compliments the large scale space. Custom steel shelving traces the vault detail. Linear in-floor lighting washes walls, ceilings, and windows.

 

An edited material palette ensures design continuity: European white oak floors, cabinets, and paneling; plaster ceilings and walls; porcelain marble slabs in bathrooms and kitchen. The veneer of the millwork was carefully sourced to match the flooring. Ruth Johnson Interiors curated the artful furnishings.

 

Structural challenges influenced the design. Living spaces were located at the perimeter to maximize views, but utility stacks did not align. To overcome this challenge, we raised the primary suite one step to increase design flexibility and provide clearance to connect the new bathroom to existing plumbing.