Fair Oaks Phius Retrofit

OAK PARK, IL

This historic house was an opportunity to fully address all the issues that plague older houses: the plan was cut up into boxes, the backyard was cut off from the interior, the basement was damp and short, it was leaky, and took lots of fossil fuels to run. Our inspired and inspiring clients were ready to give it the love it needed to become the home of their dreams: a place for the family to thrive, full of light and plants, connected to the outdoors, with indoor spaces of delight and surprise.

As a gut renovation, we took the opportunity to upgrade the thermal envelope and mechanical systems to Phius levels, ensuring great indoor air quality, comfort, resilience, and extremely low energy bills. The central bay on the south became a vertical space to unify and brighten the interior, creating connections across three stories. The house was lifted to allow a new foundation to be retrofitted under the house, providing thermal and moisture management along with a solid structure. This was all done while meeting the guidelines of the Oak Park Historic Commission.