A Better Basement

Renovation of a 100-year-old unfinished basement

An unfinished basement was reimagined to add both function and activity to the home of a Chicago couple and their two young children. While recognizing the need for practical areas like laundry and storage, the renovation also sought to create multiple zones dedicated to exercise and hobbies—which would become especially important during cold, Midwestern winters spent largely indoors.

The floorplan received a full reconfiguration to include a home gym, full bathroom and rooms to accommodate personal interests: a soundproof music room for him and a pottery studio for her. To maximize available space, the traditional water heater was replaced with compact tankless heaters, and all mechanical equipment was consolidated into an enclosed mechanical room.