Vladimir Radutny highlights "poetic relics" in Chicago loft renovation

US studio Vladimir Radutny Architects has renovated a loft inside a former car-part manufacturing building in Chicago, exposing tiles and brickwork while adding chainmail curtains.

The building was converted to residential use two decades ago, and Vladimir Radutny Architects recently transformed one of its 1,200-square-foot (111-square-metre) dwellings to embrace its heritage.

A minimalist kitchen with a mirrored soffit above a thin white island — In the renovated loft, a mirrored soffit above the kitchen island conceals existing pipework

"The design began with a careful study of existing conditions and an understanding of what could be modified within the constraints of a multi-unit building, while honouring the character that defines it," said the studio.

Among original features that deserved highlighting was the apartment's fire-resistant clay tile ceiling, which the studio described as "a poetic relic of its manufacturing past".

Dining room with a exposed clay tile ceiling and brick wall — The building's original clay tile ceiling and brick walls are exposed to add texture and character

"Its irregularities and tonal variations became both inspiration and guide, shaping ideas that embrace its quirks and celebrate its tactile warmth," the team added.

Brick walls along the external perimeter were also exposed, while steel structural columns were painted white to blend with the interior walls.

A white volume containing a bathroom divides an entryway from a dining area — A white volume containing a bathroom divides the entryway from the dining area

These include a continuous surface along the north wall, which integrates kitchen, laundry and storage functions, and helps to brighten the apartment's darkest space.

At the centre of this architectural gesture, a mirrored soffit is installed above the thin-edged kitchen island to conceal existing plumbing risers.

White oak closets create a walk-in space in between — White oak closets similarly separate the living and sleeping zones

Elsewhere, internal volumes are moved from the walls to create a continuous flow through the various functional areas and to allow light to disperse between them.

"Through close observations of how natural light interacts with space, we sought to free the apartment's exterior walls for both optimal light and view," said Vladimir Radutny Architects.

These volumes include a white box that houses a bathroom, which serves to divide the entryway from the dining room, and two rows of partial-height white oak closets that separate the living and sleeping zones.

In the beige-tiled primary bathroom, a wet zone containing the bathtub and shower is demarcated by a change in floor and ceiling height, as well as a chainmail curtain that draws across.

White walls contrast clay, brick and oak in a primary bedroom — White walls contrast the clay, brick and oak

The loft's restrained material of white oak – also used for flooring throughout – plus the clean white surfaces against textured brick and tiles, results in a minimalist yet characterful living environment.

"Through this interplay of raw and refined, the project transforms constraint into a quiet composition of light, material, and space, creating a calm, cohesive interior where boundaries blur and domestic life unfolds seamlessly within the continuity of its industrial shell," the studio said.

In a beige-tiled primary bathroom, a chainmail curtain demarcates the wet area — In the beige-tiled primary bathroom, a chainmail curtain demarcates the wet area

Vladimir Radutny Architects has worked extensively in its home city of Chicago, including several similar loft renovation projects.

Other examples include an apartment featuring wood and steel volumes slotted within an exposed concrete structure, and the combination of two residences into one connected by a hardwood veneer staircase.

The photography is by Mike Schwartz.

Project credits:

Design architect: Vladimir Radutny Architects
Design team: Vladimir Radutny, Ryan Sarros
Construction: In-Style Construction

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