Project Details
Honoring a modernist landmark while redefining the role of the kitchen within the home.
In Chicago’s Commonwealth Plaza, a landmark residential tower designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, architect Eric Rothfeder of ERA undertook the rare challenge of transforming multiple units into a single 5,000 square foot residence while honoring one of modernism’s most influential architectural legacies.
Rothfeder is known for his thoughtful, architecture-driven approach to residential design. Through his Chicago-based firm ERA, he has built a reputation for carefully considered renovations and new construction projects that balance contemporary living with deep respect for architectural context. That sensitivity made him uniquely suited to work within a Mies building, where proportion, restraint, and clarity of form define the experience of the space.
Rather than imitate Mies, Rothfeder approached the project as a dialogue with the building’s architecture. The floor plan was reorganized around the tower’s defining curtain wall of floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing living spaces to unfold along the south façade and capture sweeping views of Chicago and Lake Michigan. Natural light becomes a central design element, shaping the experience of the home throughout the day.
At the center of the residence sits the kitchen, designed with eggersmann cabinetry by eggersmann designer, Harold Skulte. One of Rothfeder’s most transformative moves was relocating the kitchen from the interior of the original layout to the southwest corner of the apartment, where it now engages fully with light and views. The space functions not only as a workspace but as a natural gathering point within the home’s open, flowing plan.
The cabinetry supports the architectural vision through restrained materials, crisp detailing, and quiet precision. A central island integrates preparation space with casual dining, reinforcing the kitchen’s role as both a functional workspace and a place to experience the rhythm of daily life within the home.
The result is a residence that balances respect for modernist architecture with a contemporary sensibility, allowing the home to feel both deeply rooted in its context and thoughtfully adapted for modern living.
