River cottages chicago price

Weese told the Tribune that his designs for these projects were inspired by his travels on the Danube River in Budapest in the s. The communist government allowed architects to experiment, and he came upon an interesting riverside development that inspired him.

The Tribune described the design as "rakish, swept-back" with "decorative portholes were meant to recall the sailing schooners that once docked at this spot across from historic Wolf Point. The Chicagoist will be launching later but in the meantime please enjoy our archives.

To date, two of three new owners have moved into the River Cottages. In the five-story building, the units are arranged with an entry room on the ground floor; living room, dining room and kitchen on the first floor;.

An elevator connects the various levels, or fitness enthusiasts may choose to use the stairs. Besides watching river traffic, the residents can look out the rear windows at the frequent commuter trains rolling by on elevated tracks across the street.

In fact, the River Cottages have a strong railroad connection. Pressed against the Kinzie Street Bridge on a steep bank, the homes are as complex as their site plan. Like the auto-centric designs of the day, you enter either through the garage or an understated front door. A smattering of porthole windows hint at the experience waiting across the threshold. You start with tight turns in skinny hallways lined with pool tile, moving past hermetically sealed bedrooms or cabins, if you will , then into medium-sized common spaces with low ceilings but broad river exposure, and finally, pushing above deck to a sprawling great room with an open kitchen and jagged window bays.

A perforated master suite peeks in from above, sharing the double-height triangular windows. A spiral staircase with yellow and red epoxy steps and handrails connects five levels—two above deck and three below. All have views east and south above the breakwall. The color scheme repeats in flashes throughout the house, usually in railings or structural braces. Along with complementary neon light fixtures and a few extra porthole cutouts in drywall, these were additions to the interior made by owner Susan Rinke and her late husband Jim Whitmer.

The kitchen and bathrooms were also buyer creations.