Michigan Avenue - Niche Media - Michigan Avenue magazine is a luxury lifestyle magazine centered around Chicago’s finest people, events, fashion, health & beauty, fine dining & more!
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/593406
photography by Ian hanson (FrIedman); mark hug/Courtesy oF rh (InterIors) The 11,000-square-foot exhibition space on level four features the frst in-gallery presentation of RH Modern. and the interior spaces, but also reclaiming, mainly the courtyard." Among the myriad challenges he faced in restoring the building, turning its central court- yard into vital, usable space was particularly formidable. "The courtyard was an open plan that I wanted to cover with a glass structure three or four stories high to create a true conservatory," Gillam says. "Gary latched right on to the idea of reclaim- ing it for year-round use, but when we got involved w it h [t he Commission on Chicago La ndma rks], we discovered that we needed to reduce its height, so it became a two-story volume, which is probably much more appropriate than what we started with. It looks gorgeous." In its new life as Chicago's RH fagship, the reimagined Three Arts Club building lends its charm not on ly to t he bra nd's ma ny ret a i l 136 michiganavemag.com what was the genesis of the modern collection? about a year and a half ago we started working on it, and right away we could see multiple trends coming together that could create a market for modern design. With that said, trends don't always make a market. i think outstanding products make a market. what are some favorite pieces? i would say that the lighting by Jonathan Browning is some of the best i've seen in years. another favorite is the cloud sofa and sectional ( pictured) by Timothy oulton. it has such beautiful lines and shape and is so comfortable you don't want to get up. most people don't equate modern furniture with comfort. how important was that to the collection? People have always had the perception that modern furniture is hard-edged. So we worked to develop high design and clean lines with comfort engineered into all the pieces. Birth of the Modern Gary Friedman talks contemporary cool and the launch of RH Modern. seg ment s —including its new Modern Collect ion, featuring contemporary fxtures and furnish- ings; RH Teen a nd R H Baby & Child; t he Ben Soleima ni Rug Showroom; and the RH Design Atelier—but also to several arts spaces that should make the building a magnetic gathering spot for Gold Coast residents. "I think opening this location within a residential neighborhood is the biggest risk we've ever taken from a business point of view," Friedman says. "But it's a great building with a unique connection to its neighborhood that allowed us to create a true destina- tion for Chicagoans and bring the arts back to it, with the inclusion of an RH Contemporary Art Gallery that will feature emerging artists we work with from around the world, as well as a strong connection to the culinary arts through a café we're doing with Brendan Sodikoff, and reviving the building's stage by creating a lounge that will host live performances." A not her at t ract ion is t he 8 ,0 0 0 - squa re -foot rooftop green space, which includes a glass and steel structure that will showcase the brand's out- door f ur nishings in a ga rden of ba na na pa lms, sculptural evergreens, and succulents. "Street level- to-roof sight lines were a great challenge with the Landmarks group," Gillam says of the rooftop reno- vation. "We made a very conscious effort to achieve our goals for the roof without altering the look of the building from the street." W het her to pu rcha se f u r n ish i ng s for you r home, grab a bite at the café (3artscafe.com), attend an exhibit at the art gallery, or explore the splen- did rehabilitation of this grand old building, R H Chicago, The Gallery at the Three Arts Club offers multiple reasons to visit this corner of the Gold Coast. "I think risk-taking brings out the best in people," Fr iedma n says. "It made us br ing our A-game to the Three Arts Club, and the results are st unning." 1300 N. Dearborn St., 312-475-9116; restorationhardware.com MA RH chairman and CEO Gary Friedman HAUTE PROPERTY Eye on Architecture