House to the Beach
TYLin provided structural engineering services for this new private residence on the shores of Lake Michigan.
Located on a lakefront site in Chicago’s northern suburbs, this residence uses two distinct two-story volumes to address a 40-foot elevation change between the main road and Lake Michigan. The main residence structure, built into the lakeside bluff, features large operable glass doors and windows allowing for striking views.
An above-ground structure close to the road houses the parking garage, guest accommodations, and a gym with a partial basketball court. A slender corridor connects the two volumes, leaving space for a large landscaped outdoor area with a swimming pool at street level.
Shallow concrete foundations are locally pinned into the ground to prevent overturning and sliding due to soil pressures. The superstructure for both parts of the house consists of steel framing with either composite concrete on metal deck or metal roof deck slabs.
Image credit: Paul Warchol