Hermitage

Hermitage is a new single-family residence located on North Wolcott Avenue in Chicago’s North Center neighborhood, designed for a couple and their two college-aged sons. The clients moved from the suburbs and requested a program that would support urban living while maintaining spaciousness. The design addresses this brief by providing a full basement with an office, gym, and recreation room, and generous living spaces arranged over 3,800 square feet above grade. A subsequent purchase and clearance of the neighboring lot to the north added new garden space for the residence, expanding its connection to the outdoors. The main floor plan sequences a formal living room at the front, a central kitchen and dining area, and a rear family room that opens to the garden. A south-facing courtyard and a large stair hall skylight introduce daylight deep into the center of the house, supported by wide hallways and oversized openings between rooms. Upstairs, the layout accommodates two bedrooms for the children and a primary suite with a private office and bathroom. Exterior materials consist of brick and flush composite siding, reinforcing the transitional character between traditional and contemporary architectural expressions.