Site Specific 10 Winners

“Discovering Spark!

Just after purchasing this property, we were working at our West Coast office in 2016 and decided to attend Dwell on Design were we came upon the Spark Modern Fires display at the show, it literally stopped us in our tracks. Recognizing Spark from early research online, we were thrilled to discover that the craftsmanship, engineering and creative options were everything we had anticipated. The Fire Ribbon Vent Free 4ft Vu Thru matched not only the modernity of our vision for featured living space, but would act as a window through the space, framing the woods just beyond. Even more importantly, it eliminated the need for a vent pipe that would have literally sliced across glass walls and voluminous open space.

By the time the Spark firebox arrived onsite, materials and finishes for both the exterior and the interiors had created a palette of organic textures and natural, earthen hues. The fireplace surround would be visually significant from a guest’s initial view at the front ground-level entry as well as from the rear exterior elevation where it would sit centered just inside the large glass panels. Exterior materials had already initiated a quiet blending with the woods, from 100-year-old reclaimed Chicago common brick to an entrance wall of custom, raw Corten-steel panels. Once we stood and absorbed the interior space, it became obvious all at once that a Corten-steel surround would engage the interior and exterior in connected conversation.

We were already working with a local steel fabricator who had just installed our custom-designed railings and floating stairs. He met us on-site and we discussed possibilities for creating this unique custom Corten-steel surround that would float monolithic in the space. We ultimately determined that we would raise the box several inches from the floor, further enhancing its floating quality, and went on to design a puzzle of sorts from a series of bent raw Corten-steel panels that would literally snap into place. The intricacy of those dimensions was a feat that this artisan-installer believed he could achieve.”

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