Cultured Cottage

— NEW CONSTRUCTION | FLOODPLAIN REMEDIATION | SUBURBAN INFILL

PRACTICE AREA

Custom Residential

LOCATION

Hinsdale, IL

SCOPE

New Construction | Civil Remediation

— THE PROJECT

Craft you can see,

building science

you can’t.

Conceived as a quiet meditation on old world craft in a modern age, this custom residence is one of those rare homes that feels inevitable—as though it could not have been built any other way.
The architecture moves thoughtfully between light and shadow, drawing generous natural light through considered openings. The layout meanders, expanding into generous gathering spaces, then pulling inward into rooms that reward stillness. The effect is cozy without feeling small, and grand without feeling hollow.
The work began below grade: targeted civil and drainage improvements that lifted the lot's County floodplain designation, removing the constraint before the house above it ever took shape. Beneath every surface is a commitment to building science: materials selected not for appearance along, but for how they perform. Season after season, decade after decade. Quality that lives in the walls as much as it carries through to the finishes.
Built for every era of life, this is the kind of home that only gets better with time.

— CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTATION

The finished home reads as quiet craft. The assembly tells the rest. These images and clips document what closes inside the walls — the sealed ZIP enclosure, the mineral-wool insulation, the mechanical and air-quality systems — the performance layer no finish will ever reveal.

The entire lot was re-graded for proper drainage to withstand intensifying weather events.

The exterior wall assemblies were built with building science to support a multi-generational home.

Construction site with concrete foundation, insulation panels, and gravel surrounding the area, with dirt and soil on the right side and a white house with trees in the background.

Construction site with excavated soil, black protective fencing, and a person holding a measuring pole near the dug trench. Residential houses and green trees are in the background.

Construction site with a rectangular concrete foundation, black waterproofing membrane, and gravel fill. A ladder, construction tools, and debris are visible around the site. Surrounding trees and residential buildings are in the background.

A construction worker in a bright yellow shirt and cap standing on a wooden building frame with yellow self-adhesive roof panels, trees and a blue sky in the background.

Interior view of a house under construction showing unfinished framing, insulation material stacked on the floor, and building supplies like wood and drywall.

ROCKWOOL insulation filled every cavity, providing acoustic sound aborption and fire resistence throughout the structure.

Custom tile installations, mixing materials, shapes, and colors to curate a modern, European vibe.

A custom fabricated staircase completed the architectural vision, creating expansion throughout the core of the home.

The foundations of the structure were designed with extensive focus on bulk water management.

The entire corner lot was excavated and re-graded for superior drainage, allowing DuPage County to remove its floodplain designation.

Advantech X-Factor subflooring was used, backing the build with a lifetime warranty.

Interior drainage was as important as the exterior drainage.

Three construction workers installing a large dark gray panel on a partially finished wall inside a building under construction. The workers are wearing casual clothing and tool belts, and there are wooden framing and insulation materials around them.

Inside a house under construction, showing a staircase with unfinished wood steps and railing, and a large window with a view of trees outside, letting in natural light.

Quieture acoustic paneling was applied to the 3rd floor for additional sound mitigation under the roof and near utility equipment.

Andersen E-Series windows were selected to facilitate the architectural vision of natural light curating every room in its own unique and intentional way.

Interior view of a house under construction with a staircase, large window, and wooden flooring, showing a worker standing on the stairs.

Interior of a shower with beige square tiles, a small pipe protruding from the wall, and a recessed ceiling light.

Construction workers laying paving stones on a house patio, with a partly built stone pathway and construction tools and materials in the foreground.

Versetta Stone grounds the exterior cladding and curated outdoor living areas.

— PROJECT IMAGERY

A modern multi-story house with large windows, a small porch with steps, surrounded by a well-maintained lawn, small bushes, and a large tree with green leaves nearby.

Front view of a modern two-story house with beige siding, black window frames, and a black front door. The house has a small porch with black railings, a stairway, and a grassy lawn with small plants. There are green trees in the background.

Front view of a modern multi-story house with large windows, beige and gray siding, a small porch with black railing, and a pathway leading to the entrance, surrounded by green grass and trees.

Bright living room with large windows, staircase, and modern ceiling fan.

Bright living room with large windows, a gray sofa with yellow pillows, a black coffee table with books and a vase with flowers, white armchair, modern black ceiling fan, and white built-in shelves with decorative items.

Living room corner with a fireplace, logs stored inside, a large window with green trees outside, and a potted plant with bare branches.

A home office with a wooden desk, white swivel chair, and a brass lamp. A large window shows trees outside. A tall vase with green branches and a book are on the desk. To the left, shelves with decorative items and a bathroom visible through an open

A modern dining area with large windows showing green trees and a neighborhood street outside. The space features a wooden dining table, chairs, and a hanging light fixture.

A man with dark hair and a beard standing at a kitchen sink, holding a green dish towel. The kitchen features green lower cabinets, wooden upper cabinets with glass doors, and a marble backsplash. The space is illuminated by natural light from a wind

A kitchen with green cabinets, wooden accents, marble backsplash, a black countertop island, and a modern light fixture with spherical bulbs.

A kitchen with a black countertop, green cabinets and a wooden cabinet with glass doors. A large glass bowl with a tree branches and leaves inside on the counter. A wooden cutting board and black bowls on the countertop. Wooden chairs with woven seat

Kitchen with green cabinets, marble countertop, wooden open shelving with dishes, apples on cutting board, and a tile entryway with small bench and plant.

Bathroom with a mirror, light fixture, beige sink, towel, green door, potted plant in the background, tiled floor.

Interior view of a modern staircase with wooden steps, black metal balusters, and wooden handrails, leading to upper floors in a brightly lit home.

Interior view of a kitchen and staircase, with a vase holding white flowers on the counter, wooden cabinets, and a large mirror on the wall.

View of a small bathroom through a doorway, with a shower curtain, a toilet, a small wooden stool, and tiled floor in a checkered pattern.

A contemporary bedroom with a gray upholstered bed, white bedding, and an orange blanket. There are two wooden nightstands with black lamps, a vase of flowers, and books. Large windows with view of trees, art on the wall, and a chandelier with black

A modern bathroom with a freestanding white bathtub, gray tiled floor, and a simple wall decor. A beige towel hangs on a black towel bar, and a large framed artwork with a textured pattern is on the wall.

Modern bathroom with a large window, wooden vanity, two mirrors, and a white bathtub with a beige towel.

A bedroom with a bed featuring a white and pink striped blanket and red pillows. Next to the bed is a small round black side table with a glass vase holding a flowering branch. The room has white walls, a closet with double doors, and an open doorway

Bright, modern interior with large windows showing green trees outside, a staircase with a black railing, white walls, and hardwood floors.

An empty room with white walls, hardwood flooring, and a large window showing trees outside. There is an open door leading to another room, and part of a staircase with a black railing is visible in the corner.

Overhead view of a wooden staircase with black metal railings and a small white window at the corner

Close-up of a staircase handrail with a wooden top rail, black vertical metal balusters, and a curved wooden support, against a beige wall.

A modern multi-story house with large windows, surrounded by tall trees and a manicured lawn, with people walking on the sidewalk in front during early evening.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Angie McMonigal

PRACTICE AREA

Custom Residential

This project belongs to our Custom Residential and Remediation practices, where the most valuable work is often the work that sits quietly beneath the finishes. A corner lot was cleared of its floodplain designation and built into a home held to a building scientist's standard, performance in every wall and the ground beneath it made sound.

EXPLORE CUSTOM RESIDENTIAL

EXPLORE REMEDIATION

Wicker Park Landmark