The brief requested the design of a 1,500 square foot single-family home to be located on a standard-sized lot in Chicago. While the dimensions and codes were specified, the challenge was creating a design that could fit into any area or neighborhood in the city. The home was to include three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room and kitchen, single garage and mechanical space.

By placing the bedrooms on the bottom and top floor the middle level can be left almost entirely open for circulation and airflow. A steel structural system allows the structure to appear very light and seemingly hover above the ground. The glazed structure is then wrapped by a series of cedar louvers to provide shade from the sun, visual privacy and a scaffolding for vines to grow.