A Harry Weese–Designed Home With a Conversation Pit Asks $899K Outside Chicago

Roughly 65 miles from downtown Chicago in DeKalb, Illinois, a 1977 home designed by celebrated architect Harry Weese sits on a 3.3-acre woodland lot on the banks of the Kishwaukee River.

Weese, an Illinois native who established his eponymous firm in Chicago in 1947, designed everything from single-family homes and residential buildings to the 30-floor Time-Life Building in Chicago, and—perhaps most famously—Washington, D.C.’s enormous Metro public transportation system. The architect, who was also known for his firm advocacy of historic preservation, was referred to in the Chicago Tribune as "the renowned architect who shaped Chicago’s skyline and the way the city thought about everything from the lakefront to its treasure trove of historical buildings" when he passed away in 1998.

"Walking in the front door, you are greeted by a massive stone fireplace that resembles one of Weese’s skyscrapers in Chicago," says the current owner, Molly Green, who has lived in the home for more than 20 years after she and her husband bought the property from the original residents who commissioned Weese to design it. "Every guest that has been here over the years has said that it truly is a one of kind," Green continues. 

In addition to the full-height stone fireplace, which is situated in a sunken living room with a 21-section Non Stop sofa by De Sede, the main level features teak and oak floors, soaring ceilings, and large windows that flood the interior with an abundance of natural light. Just off the conversation pit, a spacious living/dining area leads to the open kitchen, which is equipped with premium appliances, a large island, and cherry cabinets. A cozy breakfast area is tucked into a solarium that overlooks the river.

The primary bedroom—the only sleeping area on the main level—has a spa-inspired bath and a walk-in closet with original, built-in cabinetry. A spiral staircase leads to the home’s second story, which is comprised of two wings connected by a suspended walkway that traverses the main-floor gathering areas. One of the upstairs wings holds two bedrooms, while the opposite has an office space that is lofted to the primary bedroom below. The fourth bedroom is situated on the home’s lower level. 

Sliding glass doors connect a "recreation area" on the main level to the rear patio and gardens, which Weese designed with a leaf-shaped pool and a tennis court shaded by mature oak trees. An indoor whirlpool overlooks the backyard swimming area and connects to a bathroom on the lower level. 

In addition to its four bedrooms, plus three full—and one partial—baths, the Harry Weese–designed residence includes multiple decks that cantilever over the river, plus a two-car garage with storage and a separate golf cart garage.

9 Arrowhead Lane in Dekalb, Illinois, is currently listed for $899,000 by Tanya Hamilton and Michele Miller of Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty.

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