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street from a neighbor- hood park, yet at the same time boasts high-function, f lexible spaces for ultimate livability. And while it also sports all the right stuff—from superbly fabri- cated fixtures, finishes, f looring, and millwork to fabulous furnishings—the home's most striking fea- ture is its green surroundings, highlighted by its abundant windows, which let light stream in and its residents (a couple with two school-age children) look out, plus exuberant shocks of greenery that burst from its balconies, decks, and roofs. These green oases, which terrace up the home's four levels, replace what could have been an unre- markable ground-level yard, but the most impressive part of the design is a verdant grove of aspens and firs atop the garage. Though the house fills its lot to max- imum city constraints, it's actually considered more than 50 percent landscaped thanks to its many alfresco features. These architectural elements also grant the home- owners outside access from street level, not to mention stunning views of the park and neighbor- hood. It's those views that excite Denison: "This is a vertical structure in a dense urban setting, but you have a direct relationship with the environment out- side from every vantage point in the house," he says. To make those views possible and to amplify light inside the home, Denison designed the interior as a series of open spaces that f low into each other while fulfilling the homeowner's specific requirements for both formal and informal living areas, six en-suite bedrooms, dedicated his-and-hers offices, a home gym, and a state-of-the-art kitchen. Natural ash f loors and millwork were an intentional move, as one of the owners explains: "We couldn't find a fin- ish for bamboo that wasn't toxic." Denison advised the couple to stain it all quite light to provide a subtle, neutral, and warm backdrop that contrasts with the colors and textures of the landscape outside. The couple's plans evolved organically when they purchased the site, a light-drenched, extra-wide cor- ner lot overlooking a park. While the property was originally occupied by a Victorian-era frame house (rumored to be home and office to the doctor who treated John Dillinger after he was gunned down at the nearby Biograph Theater), the couple saw the potential in the land. "We coveted all that green space that was in a natural state surrounding it," says the owner. After buying the property, the couple learned they couldn't save the house, but realized that it opened the door to building something that took advantage of the rare setting in a meaningful way. "We were adamant that if we were going to build a house, it would be one that uses green technology, so it would maximize the efficiency of our little patch of land," attests the owner. The couple interviewed 11 architects before they found Denison, who shared their vision for the proj- ect. "It's incredibly important to have a relationship to the outside from every space in a residence, and this lot offered us an exceptionally rare opportunity to achieve that in the city," Denison notes. The home is one of the first to be built under the aegis of the City of Chicago's Green Permit Program, and it's packed with all the features that exemplify the effort—geothermal and passive solar heating and cooling; a high-performance building skin; triple- glazed, high-solar-gain Low-E windows; renewable FSC-certified woods; low- to no-VOC finishes and more. But the home's true genius rests in the innova- tive way it blends sustainability and style while connecting to the environment beyond its confines. So far, "All our strategies regarding what we wanted the home to be are working out," says the owner. "I feel like we live in a tree house." MA ECO-FRIENDLY LUXURY The luxury market is still green when it comes to green, but we spotted these two beauties on the market. 3909 N. CLAREMONT AVE., $2.5 MILLION: This sleek, award-winning four-bedroom, four-and-a- half-bathroom, 4,320-square-foot showstopper—which Brininstool + Lynch principal Brad Lynch designed for his own family in North Center's St. Ben's district—is loaded with green features, including passive solar heating and cooling, low-VOC materials, reconstituted wood millwork, and garage with a green roof. Contact Baird & Warner broker Robert John Anderson, 312-980-1580. 2041 W. DICKENS AVE., $2.5 MILLION: A rainwater collection system, an option for geothermal heating and cooling, and all-new energy-efficient appliances give this stone structure—which was built in 1900 as a funeral home and just converted to a four-bedroom, six-bathroom home with an airy 5,000-square-foot interior by architect Richard Blender—an eco-friendly start, furthered by a large garden on a 48-by100-foot lot that's full of potential. Contact Baird & Warner brokers Robert John Anderson and Heather Heinlein, 773-968-0636. "THIS IS A VERTICAL STRUCTURE IN A DENSE URBAN SETTING, BUT YOU HAVE A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ENVIRONMENT OUTSIDE FROM EVERY VANTAGE POINT." —DIRK DENISON The home is outfitted top to bottom with nontoxic and sustainable natural materials. Clean lines and a warm, neutral palette create an inviting minimalist aesthetic. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 151 152 MICHIGANAVEMAG.COM HAUTE PROPERTY

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