Residential · Contemporary

The Woodland Meadow Residence

Lake Forest, Illinois. Three volumes set beside a meadow, arranged so the terraces between them face the preserve.

The house among mature trees, its massing broken into separate volumes.

Area

≈ 5,435 sq ft

Accommodation

4 bed, 4½ bath

Scope

New Construction

Outlook

Lake Forest
Open Lands

The project

Situated adjacent to a meadow and nestled among mature trees, the residence is carefully positioned to capture expansive views of the nature preserve maintained by the Lake Forest Open Lands Association.

The building's massing is composed of three distinct volumes, maximizing natural light and creating a series of protected terraces that strengthen the connection between the residence and its wooded setting.

The approximately 5,435-square-foot home includes four bedrooms and four-and-one-half bathrooms.

Site

Set against
the meadow

Site plan showing the house positioned against the meadow, with the drive, terraces and surrounding tree cover.

Site plan

Where the house sits relative to the meadow and the preserve beyond it. Click to enlarge.

Exterior

Volumes and
the spaces between

The house from the south-west, showing how the separate volumes step against one another. — From the south-west, the three volumes read separately.

The garden elevation, with terraces held between the wings of the house. — The terraces sit in the gaps the massing leaves.

A planted terrace beside the house, enclosed by the surrounding wings. — Sheltered on more than one side, which is the point of breaking the plan up.

The kitchen garden alongside the house. — The kitchen garden, off the room that uses it.

The stair tower, a tall narrow volume rising above the roofline. — The stair tower, the tallest of the three volumes.

The front door and its immediate approach. — The entrance.

Interior

Light from
three sides

Living room under exposed white-painted roof trusses, with French doors and transom windows along both walls looking out to the meadow and oaks. — The living room carries its roof on exposed trusses, left white against the grey walls. Doors and transoms run the full length of both sides, so the meadow is in the room from either seat.

The living room from the other end, showing the fireplace with a white mantel between lit niches, and the trusses running the length of the vault. — Looking back to the fireplace, with the vault carrying through overhead.

Looking down from the loft into the kitchen and living area, showing the full height of the vaulted ceiling and the built-in bookcases flanking the fireplace. — From the loft, the height of the volume reads at once.

Kitchen with a long granite island and seating, glass-fronted white cabinetry, and the loft railing above overlooking the room. — The kitchen island runs the length of the room, with the loft open above it.

The kitchen from the dining end, with pendant lights over the island and glazed wall cabinets to the ceiling. — Eating and cooking share one room, which is how the house is used.