Moving into a vacant plot in a neighborhood on Milwaukee’s Lower East Side, Curtain House by Johnsen Schmaling Architects adds a contemporary profile to a row dominated by the points of the pitched roofs of the historic homes beside it. Standing out from the rest of the block, the home stands between two century-old homes on land that sat empty for decades.

Rather than imitating its neighbours, the house offers a modern interpretation, matching the size of the properties next door but changing things up. The home’s layout is organized around a surprising open-air courtyard at its center. A glazed gallery links the main living spaces with the bedrooms, allowing daylight to penetrate deep into the narrow plan while creating an unexpected sense of openness. The main living area flows onto both the courtyard and a small balcony overlooking the nearby Milwaukee River, making outdoor space a feature of everyday life. Its defining feature, however, is the illuminated street facade. Inspired by the curtains of city homes, often drawn for privacy, the building is fronted by a veil of slender vertical aluminium fins that seem to ripple across the building, filtering sunlight while providing shielding the interiors from the busy street. The screen shifts in density depending on what lies behind it, revealing faint glimpses of the spaces that lie within. 

More than just an eye-catching exterior, the feature balances the clients’ desire to remain in the heart of the city, closely connected to the hustle and bustle while achieving a sense of tranquillity. 

Photography © John J. Macaulay