News

What is the Property Tax Assessment Freeze and How Can it Benefit Historic Homeowners?

Executive Spotlight: Edward Twohey

Meet Erin Morgani

2024 Summer Project Tours

Meet Nick Moorhouse

Habitat Build Day 2024

Meet Monica Musialowski

Can I Lower My Floor to Improve My Basement?

Columbus, Indiana Trip

Bricks, Inc Tour + Demo

Mentoring Millwork Design

Celebrating 30 Years of Inspired Spaces

Collaborating on Luxury Kitchen Trends

Finding Famous Architecture in a Cemetery

BBA Architects Continue to Educate

Don’t Demolish that house. Dismantle it.

Habitat for Humanity Build Day 2022

Modern Luxury Interiors North Shore

Aspire Design and Home Magazine

Historic Shaw Remodel

Modern River Cottage

Creating Outdoor Spaces

Deconstruct & Re-Use

Tribute to Broad Shoulders 2022

Lincoln Park Transformation

High Gables

Allison Henry Interiors Alliance

Elmhurst Historic Preservation Commission

New Homes on the Boards in 2021

Should You Hire an Interior Designer?

Employee Spotlight - Erica Blawat, AIA

Pool House

Classicist, No. 16.

Meet Maggie Willse

De-code Electronics In Your Home

North Side River Home Taking Shape

bba Architects Habitat Build Day

Building Code Undergoing a Major Change

Meet Jack Callahan

Golf Course Home Update

Building a Traditional Jewel Box

Tudor Kitchen Renovation

Building at the water's edge

North Center Craftsman

Employee Spotlight - Jennifer Hense, AIA

Renovate or Detonate

Luxury remodel of Lake Geneva home

Raising the Roof

1880’s Historic Queen Anne

Home in Berlin, Germany Comes to Fruition.

Beer Tasting + Design Presentation

Urban Deep Dig #1

An Excellent Italian Adventure

BBA News Blog

(See full archive

June 2025

May 2025

April 2025

March 2025

February 2025

Erica Blawat on May 19, 2021

Modern River Cottage

Updated April 2022

This custom-designed home takes full advantage of its unique site.  Located along a forested portion of the Chicago River, the home offers urban convenience with an unexpected landscape.  From the street, a discrete entrance provides privacy and evokes a storybook charm, while the rear and river-facing sides of the home open up to a double height living space with floor-to ceiling windows framing the tree-lined riverfront views.  

This dramatic view, as well as the use of interior and exterior balconies, interior windows, and a welcoming terrace, blur the lines between interior and exterior.  A generous rooftop deck further blends indoor and outdoor spaces, offering panoramic views of the city and the dramatic skyline beyond.  

The stucco and siding exterior combines traditional forms with modern details to create a classic, timeless aesthetic with a refined vintage charm.  The interior of the home compliments these refined details and traditional materials of the exterior with similar detailing and the use of natural wood and stone finishes.  We look forward to seeing the remaining interior details and finishes come together as construction nears completion at this stunning, unique home. 

The design and planning approach for this project included several zoning relief triumphs, By taking advantage of multiple elements of the previous structure footprint, BBA successfully navigated the zoning to maximize the building envelope. The property is also within the jurisdiction of the Chicago Water Reclamation District, which had a voice in the building placement. Creatively positioning new components was essential to maximizing the potential on a lot with these overlapping jurisdictions. 

During the multi-stage permit process, the owners took advantage of the extra time by utilizing a deconstruction process of the existing structure. All of the lumber and other products were reused or recycled, saving a dozen or more dumpsters from ending up in a land-fill. 

To learn more about the deconstruction process in general see our article on this topic here.

Previous Post Next Post