Last week, Marina City, won preliminary landmark status. Eye candy snaps and historical snippets celebrate this great building of Chicago.
Search Results for: chicago building type
Please Stop Demolishing Chicago’s History at the Finkl Steel Site and Elsewhere
Not everyone sees the need to preserve industrial buildings but, to us, demolition at the Finkl Steel site is a tragic loss of a piece of Chicago’s history.
The Great Chicago Fire: a Calamity that Reset a City
You’ve heard of the Great Chicago Fire. Here’s how it formed the city? Our architecture, our shoreline and even the library system rose from those flames.
How We Operate: Finding Beauty in the (Honesty of) Reclaimed Building Materials
In the collage above are just a SMALL SAMPLE of our favorite uses of reclaimed wood in moss projects (from top left): Bowling Alley Bench, Begyle Tasting Room, Brew, Bar Pastoral, 2 Sparrows, and Erie Street Loft. Keep reading to see why and how we seek to use reclaimed wood products as often as possible. It is a truth pretty universally acknowledged […]
How Green Roofs, Green Space, and Green Design affect the Heat Island Effect in Chicago
Despite a relatively cool summer here in Chicago this year (thanks, I guess, Polar Vortex), we’ve all battled heat waves rolling off parking lots or struggled to arrive un-sweatily at our destinations more often than we’d like. And every summer – warm, hot or baking – is warmer here in the city (and the surrounding suburbs) than […]
Transform your Building Into a Restaurant: From Site Selection to Inspection in 7 Key Steps
Opening a restaurant in a new space can have a hundred pitfalls for new owners. moss walks you through the process – site selection to final inspection!
Food Truck to Restaurant Part I: Advice, tips and tricks from some of Chicago’s best.
(This is the first installment of a column we’re writing on the ins and outs of restaurant and food design, where we’ll be exploring topics like food trucks, building conversions and energy efficient kitchens. In this installment, two of Chicago’s finest food trucks weigh in on what you need to know before you start a restaurant […]
Flats Chicago: Lawrence House
Chicago, IL
The Tangled Web That Is The Chicago Department of Buildings
Mayor Emanuel announced today he is planning to streamline the Department of Building’s permitting process. Hoooray! He says the changes announced would reduce the permit wait time from submittal to issuance down to 35 days. (He also mentioned setting up a website for homeowners to track the status of the permit. He’s new to this, […]
Looking Up: How Ceiling Height Elevates Your Mind
Designers love knowing that the spaces we create impact on the lives of the people who occupy them. How ceiling height elevates your mood and mindset.
Veranda Lake House | A Sustainable Northern Michigan Retreat Designed Around the Water
On a quiet stretch of shoreline in northern Michigan, this Michigan lake house renovation rethinks the relationship between the home and the water. The Veranda Lake House opens directly to the lake and sand, with wide views across the water and outdoor spaces that feel more like open-air rooms than backyard add-ons. Designed as a […]
FAQ
moss FAQ Questions come up at every stage of a project, from scope and timelines to sustainability strategies, fees, and construction coordination. This FAQ outlines how moss approaches architecture, interiors, and design-build collaborations, along with what clients can expect throughout the process. We work on residential and commercial projects throughout Chicago and the surrounding region, […]
Lake House in Michigan: Architecture Strategies for Views, Wind, and Water
Designing a lake house in Michigan is one of the most rewarding and demanding challenges in luxury residential architecture. The payoff is extraordinary, featuring floor-to-ceiling water views, afternoon breezes off the lake, and a connection to the natural landscape that inland sites can rarely offer. However, that same landscape comes with real constraints. Fluctuating water […]
New Home Construction Goes Gourmet with Dual Kitchens
Designed for a couple who loves to host, this Bucktown single-family home features dual kitchens and multiple outdoor spaces.
Residential Architectural Design: Kitchen Triangle Theory That Actually Works
When homeowners in Chicago buy a 1920s bungalow in Oak Park, they often fall in love with the original hardwood floors and the way afternoon light pours through the living room windows. The kitchen, though? That’s usually a different story. The sink sits awkwardly in one corner, the stove lives on the opposite wall, and […]