curtain house

Curtain House is a private residence designed by Johnsen Schmaling Architects on North Astor Street in Milwaukee, filling a vacant infill lot in the city’s Lower East Side. The clients, experienced urban residents, purchased the narrow, 24-foot parcel directly from the city after it had stood empty since the demolition of a previous house. Surrounded by century-old homes in a dense and diverse neighborhood, the new building introduces a contemporary interpretation of the area’s traditional infill typology, aiming to repair and complete the urban street edge while keeping a respectful dialogue with its historic surroundings. The house is scaled to the height of its neighbors and unfolds across three levels.