INCREASING LAND VALUES IN A RESURGENT AREA LEAD ARCHITECT/DEVELOPER TO CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF AN INFILL PROJECT
Read MoreInside out in Highland Park
Bringing a California style project to a place like Highland Park may seem like a bit of a non-sequitur, however, I have found that maximizing outdoor space and integrating that space with the indoor spaces makes sense whether you live in the Chicagoland area, or California. We design houses that embrace the outdoors and the outdoor spaces are as carefully designed as the indoor spaces. Highland Park Modern was intentionally designed to have private, manageable outdoor spaces with dining, lounging and gardening areas. Houses still available for under $1.2 million, close to downtown Highland Park, beaches. For full information, go to HPModernhomes.com
Access to outdoor dining and green space at Highland Park Modern
Roof deck overlooking private garden space below at Highland Park Modern
Other projects by Nicholas Design Collaborative in and around Chicago take full advantage of outdoor space whenever possible.
Alignment with the front entrance and incorporation of water elements create clues to what is next in the Cortland Residence
Where water is the theme of one courtyard, fire activates another at the Cortland Residence
Periscope House extends living space of family room to the outdoors
Folding glass wall opens the family room to outdoor seating pool access at the Cortland Residence
Sun, water and outdoor living at the Sawyer Pool House in Michigan
Mystery Project 03 - New Urban House takes shape
Having been in the architecture and building business for over 30 years, it is nice to have a portfolio of work that draws customers to the style of work that I prefer to do. More and more, clients are discovering our work through online searches. The clients for the featured custom single family house we are calling "Mystery Project 03" came to us from an online search. The house is now under construction. There are several reasons why we are guarding the location of the project, but we will reveal more details about it as it progresses.
My clients are a young family who were living for a time in my native California who came to Chicago to take advantage of a professional opportunity. They recognized the modernist architecture that we are producing, and the similarity what has been designed in Southern California for over a century.
We have been blessed to have people with good taste and a property that is larger than the standard 25' x 125 lot in Chicago. As in all of our projects, we have done our best at bringing in an abundance of natural light and the warmth of the sun, while at the same time, protecting the privacy of the occupants. Our intent to create a house that fits its surroundings in terms of its scale, material and repose. Our manner of design is different than that of the neighboring buildings but we are respectful to the history of the neighborhood. The neighborhood is which it sits, and most neighborhoods in Chicago are eclectic and we feel that the of this house is our expression of the diversity of the neighborhood and the continuum of that diversity moving forward.
The house will be light filled but private, spacious with a hierarchy of scale and a sense of procession as one moves through the spaces. It will weaving interior spaces with outdoor spaces. It is designed is modern spatially but there will be a warmth and comfort to the spaces that are created.
We look forward to reporting on the construction as it progresses.
Peter Nicholas
Highland Park Modern Website up and running
The website for Highland Park Modern, our 4 house single family courtyard enclave designed and developed by Peter Nicholas of NDC is up and running with all relevant information including pricing, floor plans, images, descriptions and specification. Homes are comfortable, Interest has been high since we announced sales 2 weeks ago, and there are only 4 units available.
Go to the website at HPModernhomes.com
Sales appointments can be made with Linda Levin of Jameson Sotheby's International Realty,
312.320.6741
llevin@jamesonir.com
Peter Nicholas
Nicholas Design Collaborative
peter@nicholasdc.com
nicholasdc.com
Nicholas Design Collaborative Awarded Best of Houzz 2017 for design
NICHOLAS DESIGN COLLABORATIVE has won “Best Of Design” on Houzz®, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. The 29 year old Architectural Design and Construction Company led by Peter Nicholas was chosen by the more than 40 million monthly unique users that comprise the Houzz community from among more than one million active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals.
The Best Of Houzz is awarded annually in three categories: Design, Customer Service and Photography. Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the more than 40 million monthly users on Houzz.
“We’re so pleased to award Best of Houzz 2017 to this incredible group of talented and customer-focused professionals, including Peter Nicholas,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of Industry Marketing for Houzz. “Each of these businesses was singled out for recognition by our community of homeowners and design enthusiasts for helping to turn their home improvement dreams into reality.”
Follow Nicholas Design Collaborative on Houzz http://www.houzz.com/pro/petermnicholas
MARKET TRANSFORMS CASE STUDY HOUSES 2111 INTO HIGHLAND PARK MODERN
Case Study Houses 2111
Within the shifting and sometime unpredictable business of real estate development, we sometimes have what seems to be a well thought out beautifully conceived idea and we are convinced that people will fall in love because they cannot resisting envisioning themselves living there. This is what we had hoped for our Case Study Houses 2111 project, a four house single family enclave near the heart of downtown Highland Park. The design won a 2015 Association for Licensed Architects (ALA) Design Award in the unbuilt category and we were excited to see it built.
It takes a lot more than a design award to get people to invest in a new single family home. When we started the process, the economy and home sales were emerging from the great recession and seemed ripe for this kind of project. The construction industry has recovered to pre-recession levels, however, the work force has far less people to meet the increased demand. Due to this increase in demand, I have found that over the past two years, the cost of construction has gone up, in many cases, 33-50%. As a result, we have decided to redesign the project to a smaller unit size and to a more affordable price point.
So here we are, but we are not done yet! We still love the location and we love the new product even more than the original, but this time with more private and usable outdoor space, huge south facing floor to ceiling glass and best of all, for less money.
HP Modern - Private courtyard garden
HP Modern - Site Plan
Meet HP Modern. Our initial thought was that our market would be empty nesters from Highland Park and other communities in the North Shore and young families that may be looking for a more contemporary house in a suburban location with excellent public schools,convenient transportation to Chicago and goods & services within walking distance. We still believe in our market and our pricing is significantly less than before.
HP Modern - birdseye
The new design is still true to the work of the great Southern California modernists from the mid 20th century, but with a more compact plan and consolidated private outdoor space. The quality of the construction and architectural design remains the same, but in a smaller package. The indoor-outdoor living spaces are even better and more private and we have re-positioned the spaces in such a way that all units have tremendous access to south light and complete privacy from the other houses on site as well as the neighboring structures.
We are committed to accommodating empty-nesters and the aging in place by placing the master bedroom and laundry on the main level with easy access to exterior spaces and the possibility of full accessibility for the disabled to the master bedroom and bathroom, kitchen and living spaces. On the first floor, all clearances meet ADA convertibility requirements and can easily be made fully accessible if the need arises. These houses are 4,100 square feet including a built out basement and have 4 bedrooms and 3 1/2 baths. The second floor contains 2 generous bedrooms and a shared bath. The basement has an expansive recreation room with plumbing roughed in a full bathroom, a bedroom, large storage space and a location for a wet bar if the buyer chooses to do so. There will also be 4 guest parking spaces on site. First floor living and master bedroom spaces have floor to ceiling glass and face onto a 1,200 square foot private courtyard garden which includes a raised outdoor living/dining space at the same level of the interior spaces on the main level. In addition, there is a second floor roof deck with a beautiful steel stair down to the first floor patio as well as a direct connection from the second floor.
Pre-Construction Sales Start on February 22nd!
Prices range from $1,150,000 to $1,199,000
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT THE PROJECT WEBSITE! WWW.HPMODERNHOMES.COM
For Sales information contact:
Linda Levin
312.320.5741
llevin@jamesonir.com
HP Modern - Living/Dining
NDC selected among Top 20 Chicago Architects in 2016 by Expertise.com
Expertise.com selected NDC from a list of 293 Chicago Architects as one of the Top 20 for 2016. To see all the firms selected, click on this link.
Here is the criteria they used in their selection.
"Our goal is to connect people with the best local experts. To do so, we analyzed and scored architects on more than 25 variables across six categories to give you a hand-picked list of the best architects in Chicago, IL.
1. Reputation
A history of delighted customers as a signal of outstanding service.
2. Credibility
Building customer confidence with licensing, industry accreditations, and awards.
3. Experience
Masters of their craft, based on years of practical experience and education.
4. Availability
Consistently approachable and responsive, so customers never feel ignored.
5. Professionalism
Providing customers a seamless experience both online and off.
6. Engagement
Actively engaged with their customers across a number of platforms."
FLITE SERIES UPDATE - 2 units under contract
Entry Hall
The Flite Series, The NDC designed 4 unit townhouse development located on the banks of the Illinois River in the Heritage Harbor boating resort in Ottawa, IL has contracted two of the four units offered. The two end units which have 3 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths including two master suites and a loft space are under contract, leaving the two interior units, one with 2 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths ($399,000) and the other with 3 bedrooms and 3 1/2 baths ($405,000). Sales have been brisk over the past several weeks at Heritage Harbor. In addition to these units being sold, 3 lots to the west of the Flite Series recently went under contract in the past 2 weeks.
For sales information contact Diane Karpman of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services at (847) 636-0200, or dianekarpman@gmail.com
Kitchen/Living
Kitchen/Living, Master Bedroom beyond
Dining/Entrytrs
Street View
Waterside Elevation
Peter Nicholas
FAMOUS FLAME BAR TO BE RESURRECTED
Current Condition
If you are familiar with Park Boulevard in San Diego, you no doubt have noticed the iconic Mondrian-esque bar located at 3780 Park Boulevard named THE FLAME. Its hard to miss with its colorful facade and neon sign, but for the past several years it has been vacant while the district surrounding it has developed into a much higher density mix of residential and commercial projects. The once vibrant facade has been painted black with red accents, undoubtedly in an unsuccessful attempt to brand it as "Goth".
One project that has not changed is the building to the south of The Flame, the Egyptian Court. My brother Jim Nicholas of Clownfish Properties bought this predominately one story apartment building in the 1980's amidst much controversy as the previous Owner, in an effort to obliterate its architectural significant attempted to jack hammer all of the plaster Egyptian Revival ornament off of the building with the intention of replacing the building with a higher density project. He was stopped as the tenants wouldn't allow it and an uproar erupted in the local community and media. The previous Owner was so maligned that he decided to sell the the project. At this point brother Jim stepped in, and being the steward of good architecture that he is, recast and replaced all the destroyed ornament and brought it back to its original glory. He also replanted the landscaped courtyard with lush plantings consistent with Egyptian Architecture and making the environment complete. He was nominated and won an "Orchid" at the annual design competition, "Orchids and Onions" which judges the best and worst of architecture and public art in San Diego. Needless to say he was celebrated for his efforts.
Over the past couple of years he has been talking (obsessing) over The Flame, which sits next door, he could not stop considering what could be done with this property. In actuality, the architecturally significant part of the project is the facade and the neon sign. The rest of the building is a one story, 6,000 sf concrete box. Jim's idea was to keep the bar, which would be reduced from 6,000 sf to 2,000 sf and building up behind the facade and distinctive neon sign in a respectful and complimentary way. The sign would be repaired and brought back to its original state and the facade which although distinctive, had no windows facing the street. The new design would enhance the existing facade by installing roll up "garage doors" with translucent glass to match the existing color of the existing painted wood panels and would open the space to the street during days with good weather. Everything else about it would be faithful to the original design. The residential portion of the project will have 6 apartment units, 4 of which will be two level duplexes. Two of the units will face the street, while the other 4 units will face a private, internal courtyard. After a somewhat arduous entitlement process, the Historic Resources Board unanimously approved the project and we expect it to be submitted for permit in July and with any luck, construction will start before the end of the year.
NDC was the Design Architect on the project and is working with local architect Scot Frontis, who will be the executive architect.
New Design
Preliminary Front with Duplex Units above
Birdseye view from the south-east
Residential court from east
Residential court from west
Edgebox Front - Stainless shingles showcases along with other traditional materials to create scale
SKIN GAMES: VARIETY, DURABILITY, LIVABILITY AT EDGEBOX
Something that I find myself thinking while moving around Chicago, especially in new housing products is the lack of variety and diverse use of exterior materials. It is not because of a lack of available products, both newly developed and traditional. I think because whoever is designing these buildings or the developers who are commissioning those designs pick the easiest route, which is not to consider alternatives, but just to do what worked last time and to play it safe.To me, that is just lazy. I have no problem with being contextual in a neighborhood and, for example, putting up a building that is brick, in a neighborhood that is brick, or cladding a building in siding in a neighborhood where the house are predominately clad in the same material. The problem is that often, the new development doesn't go nearly as far in matching the care and detail of the existing neighborhood. How many times have we seen the hulking, scaleless three story plus basement house of 3 flat next to the cowering adjacent bungalows. I understand and actually sympathize with a property owner building to the limit of what zoning allows, however if some thought was put into breaking down the mass into smaller volumes, adding additional planes, adding detail.
Edgebox roof deck - Cedar cladding and deck
Shingle Detail
Stainless steel shingles are a product I discovered on the Walker Library in Minneapolis by VGAA. I liked it immediately for it's residential scale, durability and the natural variety within the color range of the surface. I chose to use it on the front facade of the building as a new wrinkle on a block of eclectic materials.
Walker Library- Stainless steel shingles
Rear yard - Brick, Cedar, Stucco
The difference between a "builder" house and a "custom" house is the care in the layout, thoughtful detailing and use of interesting materials that help the building working with the neighborhood scale. On our Edgebox project, located at 5945 N. Magnolia in Chicago, we decided to experiment with a combination of different materials, some traditional, some new. Stucco, stained cedar and stucco can be found on most streets in Chicago, and for good reason. These traditional materials are beautiful and durable, can be locally sourced and are abundant. We have chosen to use these materials not only on Edgebox, but on several other projects.
Equitone Fiber Cement Board - Example
Fiber-cement board is a product I have used in several other projects, but the product we have chosen to use on the side elevation of this project is new to the market and has a very attractive line of colors and textures that requires no finishing and will retain its look for decades
Edgebox at street level - Stainless steel shingles, cedar, brick, stone
EDGEBOX UPDATE: OLD HOUSE DOWN, SIGN UP, NEW HOUSE COMING SOON
Demolition is complete and we are talking to a couple of interested parties about purchase, but nobody has yet come to the table to purchase. Take advantage of the opportunity to work with our skilled and committed team in making this house your own. The interior is an open book for you to select finishes. The house is permitted and ready to build as soon as a buyer steps up.
New front
New rear
Entry Foyer
EDGEBOX UPDATE - DEMOLITION HAS BEGUN
We are making progress on the demolition of the dilapidated single family residence that currently exists at 5945 N. Mangolia Avenue in Chicago. Never on a project that I have been involved has the neighborhood been so glad to see an old house go away.
Before
After
There has been alot of interest in the new construction home that we have designed, but it is still available for purchase. For complete information, go to 5945magnolia.com
CASE STUDY HOUSES 2111 SHOWROOM OPENING TOMORROW
Our sales showroom for Case Study Houses 2111 is open to Brokers tomorrow May 3rd at 607 Elm Place in downtown Highland Park, a few blocks from the building site. General Public Grand Opening will be May 5 - 8 from 12-5. Showroom will be open weekly Thursday through Sundary from 12-5.
EVERYBODY WINS - New house to replace environmental hazard and visual eyesore in Edgewater
When I signed the standard real estate contract for the purchase of an decrepit single family house at 5945 N. Magnolia Ave. in the Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago in January 2015, I would have never guessed that it would have taken 15 months to complete the transaction. But after much effort and the support of the surrounding community, the members of the EPIC block club and the help of Alderman Harry Osterman's office, the deal was consumated and the house will be demolished starting this Friday, April 15th. I am normally not so gleeful about the demolition of an existing structure, but this particular house was beyond repair, infested with animals and filled with literally tons of soaked papers, old furniture and rusted bicycles.
The previous Owner finished collecting his salvagable belongings and has gone back to his homestead in rural Southwest Wisconsin. He had not been living on Magnolia street for decades and it has become a environmental and and visual disaster. The emotional attachment to the memories the seller had for the place rendered him unable to complete the deal, but after the mobilization of concerned neighbors by super organizer Lynn Pierce, we were able to move the transaction to completion with the help of a reasonable presiding judge who was able to apply the appropriate amount of legal pressure. I am happy to say that never did my communication with the seller become contentious and the conversation was civil until the end. He walked away with a tidy sum of money for a property that had become a legal and emotional burden, and although I cannot speak for him, I believe that letting go was the best thing for him on several levels. I on the other hand am beyond pleased to have the opportunity to add a new piece to the urban fabric in a neighborhood that is very familiar to me, having completed the renovation and addition to a building just two blocks to the south on the same street, our Periscope House, finished in the summer of 2014.
Like the Periscope House, this new project, which we are calling EdgeBox is a custom quality product that will offer buyers the opportunity to work with us on the selection of interior finishes and design and to participate in the construction experience. We will be involved as architects and builders from start to finish in order to ensure that all the details, that are the essence of a successful piece of architecture are managed and executed to match the vision of the design. For complete details about the project including specifications and sales data, visit www.5945magnolia.com
Front - Before
Rear - Before
Front - Before
Rear - After
Interior - Before
Interior - After
New Entry Foyer
Peter Nicholas
New Roof Deck
CASE STUDY HOUSES 2111 FEATURED IN TWO TRIBUNE ARTICLES
Case Study Houses 2111, our award winning 4 house single family enclave to be built near downtown Highland Park, IL was featured online on February 29th in the Chicago Tribune Highland Park News and another article, published online on March 16 and in print tomorrow, March 24th, also in the Chicago Tribune Highland Park News
Construction planned to start this summer. Award winning design of these new construction houses stands out in a market with seemingly stagnant and aging houses with little appeal.
Visit our new website CaseStudyHouses2111.com
For sales information contact Diane Karpman of Bershire-Hathaway (847) 636-0200 and dianekarpman@gmail.com
Front unit from Autocourt
Front Unit Kitchen/Dining
Front Unit Entry Court
The Beat Goes On - Article in ARCHITECTS NEWS
Article published today in Architects News entitled HIGHLAND DESIGN about our upcoming development project in Highland Park, IL, Case Study Houses 2111.
NDC BLOWING UP IN MEDIA AND AWARDS
The Periscope House, a project that transformed a dark neglected house into a light filled urban oasis has been getting lots of attention lately along with its future neighbor, EDGEBOX and Case Study Houses 2111 coming soon to Highland Park, Ilinois. Construction is planned on both EDGEBOX and Case Study Houses 2111 this summer and pre-construction sales are underway. Follow the links in the individual project websites for sales information
- EDGEBOX was featured in DNA Chicago on 1/8/16
- Case Study Houses 2111 and Periscope House both won Awards of Merit from the Association of Licensed Architects 2015 Design Awards
- Periscope was featured in Curbed (National Edition) on 1/4/16
- Periscope was featured CONTEMPORIST on 1/2/16
NDC wins 2 Design Awards from the Association of Licensed Architects
We are pleased to announce that Nicholas Design Collaborative won two 2015 Awards of Merit from the Association of Licensed Architects for The Periscope House, and Case Study Houses 2111. To see all of the award winners go to the ALA Website. Here is a brief recap of these projects.
CASE STUDY HOUSES 2111 - CaseStudyHouses2111.com
An unbuilt project with construction planned to begin in Spring 2016, this modernist enclave of 4 single family house based around a communal autocourt encourages interaction between residents
Birdseye view of Case Study Houses 2111
View from St. Johns Ave.
A new suburban-urban model located within 2 blocks of goods and services in downtown Highland Park, metra trains to downtown Chicago and K-12 schools, walking is possible for all activities. Use of the automobile is an option, not a requirement. Perforated masonry walls provide privacy as well as ventilation for private courtyards.
Front Houses- Entry Court
Private courtyards for individual houses allow floor to ceiling glass and indoor-outdoor living.
Private Court - Rear Units
Auto Court at Front House
PERISCOPE HOUSE
Located in the Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago, iwe transformed this dilapidated 50's era house into a state of the art, 21st century, energy efficient courtyard home
Street view
Forecourt and Family Room
The shell of the existing house and the surrounding garden walls were saved and a series of additions added. By saving the existing house, we salvaged tons of materials that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill
Living/Kitchen/Dining
The restoration of existing spaces along with the insertion of new forms make for dynamic spaces.
Rear view
The use of commonly used low mainenance cement board cladding on the rear facade add a surprising splash of color to the experience.
Garage from rear patio
Because there was no basement in the existing house, we decided to add a 3 car garage with added mezzanine storage, which also proves privacy from the commercial alley and an extra party room if the owners want to park the fancy cars on the street for a bit.
Master Bedroom
Master bedroom sits like a tree house above the street
Peter Nicholas - peter@nicholasdc.com
Flite Series ready for purchase
Following a unusually wet summer, the landscaping and exteriors of the Flite Series is complete. 2 of the units have completed interiors while the other two have been left without interior finishes to give a buyer the opportunity to customize the units to their own specification.
The Flite Series in the Heritage Harbor Resort Community in Ottawa, Illinois is located 90 minutes from Chicago. Each unit is 3 levels with 2 stories facing the street and 3 stories facing an inlet off of the Illinois river. The views are peaceful and private.
The scale of the project mediates between the adjacent smaller scale single family structures and the larger townhouse developments. The Architure is a modern abstraction of the farmhouse vernacular that is present in the development as well as throughout rural illinois
Living, Dining, Kitchen areas are open and lofty with sweeping views to the river.
Furnished model gives visitors a feel for what it would be like to live here
At night the entry halls light up like lanterns
There will be an open house this weekend. For more information or to make an appointment, please contact Diane Karpman of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices at 847 636-0200 or dianekarpman@gmail.com.
Peter Nicholas -peter@nicholasdc.com
Case Study Houses 2111 featured in Crain's Chicago Business
Our new 4 house single family, Urban-Suburban prototype project in Highland Park was published in Crains Chicago Business on Thursday . To see the article, go to the following link
If you would like to see the marketing brochure, go the website for the project at www.casestudyhouses2111.com
At this point we are awaiting governmental approval, so technically, we are presales, but we are open to take reservations. For more sales information, please contact Diane Karpman at 847.636.0200 or dianekarpman@gmail.com
We are extremely excited about this one of a kind project and can't wait to get started!
Peter Nicholas
peter@Nicholasdc.com