Jesse James
The American design firms of Brooks + Scarpa and Studio Dwell took a suburban Chicago neighborhood for their latest design. Dubbed the Thayer Brick House, this unique structure is eye-catching and modern, boasting an inner courtyard screened from the road by “vertical twisting columns” of brick. The home is situated on a picturesque street just north of Chicago designed for an investment banker.
The structure of a narrow plot bordered by more traditional homes for the area. The project was designed by Brooks + Scarpa with Studio Dwell serving as architect of record. The house is a simple rectangular plan consisting of open volumes that are organized around a gravel courtyard that faces the street. Rather than typical red brick, the home features Chicago common brick, which is made of local clay and comes in various hues.
The rugged texture and inconsistent coloring is unique, while the brick itself was historically “used in places generally obscured from the street, such as side and back walls, chimney flues, and structural support behind facades.” The distinctive screen made of bricks is eye-catching, and during the day the design allows natural light to filter into the home. Brick was also used for the sidewalls and was left visible within several interior rooms.
The small yard in the front is filled with tall prairie grass while a diagonal pathway cuts across the yard. The entryway of the home also provides direct access to the courtyard. The house is divided between public and private zones, the ground level featuring a double-height public area, while a master suite and guest bedroom are located upstairs. Views of the courtyard area through glazed walls. The home is spacious and modern, eye-catching, and stunning.
Take a closer look at this beautiful modern structure in the images and head over to Brooks + Scarpa to find out more about the Thayer Brick House immediately.
Photos via Brooks + Scarpa
