What’s better than an apartment within Bertrand Goldberg’s Marina City? How about two of them? MAS Studio and Future Firm, with the help of ELLIPSIS Architecture, combined a one-bedroom unit with a two-bedroom unit in the Chicago landmark for an art gallerist and collector. For the new 2,000-square-foot space, dubbed MC05, the designers combined the units in a way that flows, restored and maintained Goldberg’s original design, and updated the interiors to house and display the client’s collection.
To connect the units, the team opened the floorplan to prioritize the views overlooking the complex. In doing so, the organization became a rhythmic series of structural bays. Walls, doors, and frames were stripped of decades of paint and then skim-coated, highlighting the structural elements and original reveals. Windows are now framed by these curving bays. The design team also added new black terrazzo flooring, the same color as the original flooring, to tie the apartments together visually. Aluminum terrazzo divider strips are placed along the flooring to align with structural reveals, a small detail that further emphasizes the flow of the unit and the architecture of Marina City.
More meticulousness lies in the architects’ restoration of original designs. Bathrooms were rebuilt with glass mosaic tiles custom-blended to match the previous color schemes. The original lighting fixtures were also maintained and refinished with smart technology to allow remote control and color-changing temperatures to match the shifting times of the day.
A real blast from the past though is in the kitchens, where Mix-Or-Match GE kitchens with their bread storage and other under-the-cabinet shelving retain original colors, Woodtone Brown and Avocado. The metal cabinets were refinished for a cleaner look, adding a set of GE “cabinettes” found in another unit within the building. The original cooktops and ovens were refurbished while new refrigerators and dishwashers were added with custom panels to match the set. New stainless-steel pulls were cast to match the original cabinets.
In contrast to the retro revival, a new space appears where the former bedroom lied between the two units. Now, the space acts as a social den with a reconfigurable, custom-designed banquette and ottomans. Tucked into a wall, it looks out at the view from the windows ahead. But behind it, a folding wooden screen opens up to reveal a large soaking tub. Clad in green tiles that continues down to the tub step and bench, the tub can look out to the window when the screen is open, a new way to enjoy the view of the corn-cob building.
The quirky feature feels a little more at home with the design’s mix of 1960s Italian furniture and art. In particular, Joe Colombo’s works are on display here, including the Tube chair and the Astrea lounge chairs in bright yellow. They fall alongside the client’s varied art collection, from the mythical and eerie creatures of Emma Pryde to the pop art and surrealist painter Ernest Trova to the contemporary work of Puppies Puppies.
Between the restored elements of the units, new features to lounge in, and details that highlight the structural reveals, the renovation of MC05 both revives Goldberg’s designs while creating new opportunities to enjoy his work, the artwork of the clients, and relax in the space.