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Continues Rappe,
Continues Rappe,
The bank of windows on the rear facade faces a lush hillside. "The prototypical country house wants to look over and out on the land," says Rappe. "This house looks at the slope upward. It makes for a different sense of space." Rappe was very careful to ensure that the house would not be visible from the existing properties and that neighboring houses would not be visible from within his design. "We wanted to do a home that was attractive to our clients but not too obtrusive to neighbors," he adds. "We wanted to be good modernists."
The bank of windows on the rear facade faces a lush hillside. "The prototypical country house wants to look over and out on the land," says Rappe. "This house looks at the slope upward. It makes for a different sense of space." Rappe was very careful to ensure that the house would not be visible from the existing properties and that neighboring houses would not be visible from within his design. "We wanted to do a home that was attractive to our clients but not too obtrusive to neighbors," he adds. "We wanted to be good modernists."
A long-term vision of the future was the approach taken by Kuklinski + Rappe Architects of Chicago, Illinois when a family of five with two wheelchair-using daughters approached the firm. The focus on the family's lifestyle and health and how they would grow over the years prompted a non-traditional layout centered around courtyards. The children's bedrooms have access to their own shared courtyard.
A long-term vision of the future was the approach taken by Kuklinski + Rappe Architects of Chicago, Illinois when a family of five with two wheelchair-using daughters approached the firm. The focus on the family's lifestyle and health and how they would grow over the years prompted a non-traditional layout centered around courtyards. The children's bedrooms have access to their own shared courtyard.
When envisioning the perfect home for their family, Kiley and Jim agreed that accessibility was paramount—access to the outdoors, and access for their daughters, Langley and Boelyn, who have special needs and rely on their wheelchairs to get around. After purchasing a narrow lot in Downers Grove, Illinois, the couple reached out to Chicago-based firm Kuklinski + Rappe Architects to design a residence that would serve their daughters, their son Huck, and their own various needs. Crafted to adapt to the family's lifestyle over the years, the home will provide lifelong health and happiness.
When envisioning the perfect home for their family, Kiley and Jim agreed that accessibility was paramount—access to the outdoors, and access for their daughters, Langley and Boelyn, who have special needs and rely on their wheelchairs to get around. After purchasing a narrow lot in Downers Grove, Illinois, the couple reached out to Chicago-based firm Kuklinski + Rappe Architects to design a residence that would serve their daughters, their son Huck, and their own various needs. Crafted to adapt to the family's lifestyle over the years, the home will provide lifelong health and happiness.
To clad the garage, Rappe opted for thermally treated poplar by Cambia. While it has a similar look to ipe, the wood is more durable, needs little maintenance, and is more affordable. The warm tone contrasts the aluminum siding Rappe used on the upper portion. "The home has a slim profile," he says. "We wanted to change the material on the garage level to give the impression that it's long and low."
To clad the garage, Rappe opted for thermally treated poplar by Cambia. While it has a similar look to ipe, the wood is more durable, needs little maintenance, and is more affordable. The warm tone contrasts the aluminum siding Rappe used on the upper portion. "The home has a slim profile," he says. "We wanted to change the material on the garage level to give the impression that it's long and low."
Built on a challenging hillside site and tucked behind a thicket of trees, the Bridgman, Michigan, house designed by Scott Rappe provides a modern weekend retreat for a Chicago couple. “One of my first responsibilities was getting the owners up to their house and essentially on one level. Because of the pie-shaped property, we needed to push the building up the hill to provide square footage for the program. By keeping the building perpendicular to the slope, using piloti on one side and a retaining wall on the dune side, we were able to insert foundations with minimal disturbance," says Rappe.
Built on a challenging hillside site and tucked behind a thicket of trees, the Bridgman, Michigan, house designed by Scott Rappe provides a modern weekend retreat for a Chicago couple. “One of my first responsibilities was getting the owners up to their house and essentially on one level. Because of the pie-shaped property, we needed to push the building up the hill to provide square footage for the program. By keeping the building perpendicular to the slope, using piloti on one side and a retaining wall on the dune side, we were able to insert foundations with minimal disturbance," says Rappe.
“That middle piece had to be glass,” says architect Scott Rappe, explaining that the glowing central pavilion balances the three volumes while maximizing the stunning, wooded views.
“That middle piece had to be glass,” says architect Scott Rappe, explaining that the glowing central pavilion balances the three volumes while maximizing the stunning, wooded views.
“I wanted a house that glows in the woods at night,” homeowner Kate Bensen said of her home on Woodland Dune. With that direction, architect Scott Rappe worked to bring the glowing vision to life.
“I wanted a house that glows in the woods at night,” homeowner Kate Bensen said of her home on Woodland Dune. With that direction, architect Scott Rappe worked to bring the glowing vision to life.
Kuklinski + Rappe custom designed the bathroom vanity stand. The house's general contractor, Olson Brothers Construction, fabricated the piece. The faucets are by Jado and the sink is Kohler. See another modern retreat in the woods here.
Kuklinski + Rappe custom designed the bathroom vanity stand. The house's general contractor, Olson Brothers Construction, fabricated the piece. The faucets are by Jado and the sink is Kohler. See another modern retreat in the woods here.
One way the house welcomes outsiders in is through the middle module’s floor-to-ceiling Marvin Windows. “The mullions between the windows are engineered to be as narrow as possible, so the glass could be expansive,” says Rappe.
One way the house welcomes outsiders in is through the middle module’s floor-to-ceiling Marvin Windows. “The mullions between the windows are engineered to be as narrow as possible, so the glass could be expansive,” says Rappe.
The restrained interior features a custom kitchen with dark cabinetry. Rappe designed it to receed into the space, allowing the views from the window and light streaming through the clerestory to steal the show. He wrapped the island in marble and selected Bosch appliances.
The restrained interior features a custom kitchen with dark cabinetry. Rappe designed it to receed into the space, allowing the views from the window and light streaming through the clerestory to steal the show. He wrapped the island in marble and selected Bosch appliances.
The residents hope to retire in the house, which led Rappe to consider their mobility in years to come. To that end, he restricted the main living space to one level, kept the light switches and cabinet pulls at a low height, and used handles instead of knobs on the doors. "It's always good to default on the side of universal design," he says. Kathleen Hess helped the residents select the furnishings.
The residents hope to retire in the house, which led Rappe to consider their mobility in years to come. To that end, he restricted the main living space to one level, kept the light switches and cabinet pulls at a low height, and used handles instead of knobs on the doors. "It's always good to default on the side of universal design," he says. Kathleen Hess helped the residents select the furnishings.