Striking, measured, and working together in a symphonic wave of poetic synchronicity, architecture and design are siblings, speaking with each other on a tableau of captivating beauty and sensible function.
Nestled elegantly on the north side of Chicago, the skyline boasts a 27-story tribute to the grace and alluring simplicity of the International Style and the American Modernist Movement, with two steel and concrete towers enveloped in glass—a historic milestone that pays homage to architectural feats of the past while remaining relevant today with its timelessness and structural charm.
These are the Commonwealth Promenade Apartments, designed by famed architect Mies Van der Rohe and erected in 1956.
Before Luminaire could assist in the particulars of selecting furniture for one of the most emblematic buildings to grace Chicago, the scenic canvas of its interior space was set.
Eric Rothfeder Architects (ERA), a full-service architectural firm with studio practice in Chicago, was responsible for reimagining one entire floor of Van der Rohe’s Commonwealth Promenade—as three apartments purchased over decades were to be integrated into one spacious and inviting residence.
Believing that all good design begins with curiosity, ERA reconfigured the rooms and partitions in a manner that would not imitate Van der Rohe but rather work closely in conversation with his work.
With a rejuvenated interpretation of a Modernist icon, ERA partnered with Luminaire to furnish a space that gives a grateful nod to the past while basking in a timeless appeal that speaks to our contemporary moment.
Some pieces were designed contemporaneously with the conception of the Commonwealth Promenade—like two legendary works by Le Corbusier’s partner Pierre Jeanneret, originally created in the 1950s for the modern city of Chandigarh, India.
The Capitol Complex Armchair, with its distinctive “V”-shaped side supports and minimalist geometries, embodies the very principles of modern interior design: functional and aesthetic. The Kangaroo Chair, with a mirroring “V” stance, is yet another unforgettable piece of design history.
Other works, like Gerrit Rietveld’s legendary Utrecht Chair (1935), speak to the beginnings of modernism and the De Stijl Movement.
Some find inspiration in eras even further past—like Hans Wegner’s Wishbone Chair, designed in the 1940s yet harkening back to the Chinese Ming Dynasty, or Paul Kjaerholm’s PK 24 Chaise Lounge, a refined balance of industrial precision and natural form, inspired by French lounge chairs and the Rococo period.
In conversation with these historic icons are contemporary wonders. In the living room—alongside Jeanneret’s pieces and mid-century marvels from Charlotte Perriand, such as the Rio Low Table and Tabouret Stools—sits the Mex Cube Sofa by Piero Lissoni, a modern master of minimalism whose designs complement Van der Rohe’s vision without imitation.
In the kitchen and dining spaces, equally stylish yet unassuming luxury is found through works like Patricia Urquiola's Dudet Chair and Jasper Morrison's Hi Pad Stool.
In the bedroom, Marc Newson’s Wooden Chair in natural beech mirrors the millwork and ethos of the space. Its alpha-curve silhouette, formed from steam-bent planks, showcases Newson’s ability to honor modernism while innovating with organic shape and artisanal execution.
Unmistakably original, yet rooted in historical context, the environment crafted on this impressive and unforgettable floor of the Commonwealth Promenade recalls the elegant urbanity of Van der Rohe’s modernism—yet reimagines it with a contemporary perspective rather than replicate it.
Recently featured in AN Interior, the award-winning design publication from The Architect’s Newspaper that bridges art, architecture, and culture, this project illustrates how furniture selection and architectural integrity can unite in rousing and sophisticated ways.
It gloriously articulates a conversation between the simple and the refined, the sleek and the poetic, the historic and the contemporary—with respect, veracity, and modest grace.
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May 2025
