The drama found in the foyers of residences at Oleander in Brookhave, Ga. is carried over to the … [+]
Mary Cook Assocaites
You don’t get a second chance to make a great first impression. Everybody knows that. So why do so many people consign their homes’ foyers to afterthought status?
According to a recent National Association of Home Builders survey, entry foyers fill an average of 83 square feet, or about 3% of an average new home’s floor space. While tiny, that space can be critical in creating the aforementioned terrific first impression. But in many homes, the opportunity is tossed aside in favor of such plain vanilla functions as coat-and-boot closets.
Many consider this scuttling of square footage a tremendous waste of valuable space. Foyers provide a chance to set the tone for the rest of the dwelling, regardless of whether it’s a grand mansion, spectacular penthouse or cozy cottage. They can reflect the personal tastes of the homeowner, or impart a sense of the history or culture of the home’s setting. The colors, the artwork, the lighting and the fabrics and finishes adorning a foyer can provide a creative outlet for homeowners and give guests a quick first glimpse of a homeowner’s very individual style.
Changing the skyline
Some designers of luxury residences are choosing to make sure foyers live up to their full potential, by focusing more attention on thoughtful entry sequences. An example is Cirrus, a 47-story, 363-unit luxury condominium sprouting in Chicago’s Lakeshore East community, where the Lake Michigan shoreline and the increasingly inviting Chicago River intersect. On approach to the tower, residents and visitors will pass Cascade Park, an emerald oasis being developed along with Cirrus, before catching a view of the blue — adjacent Lake Michigan — through the floor-to-ceiling glass extending along the eastern wall of the building’s flow-through lobby.
It’s a grand entrance, and the drama is carried right through to Cirrus’s individual residences, which extend from 650 to more than 3,000 square feet in size and from the mid-$400,000s to more than $4 million in price. Teaming with bKL Architecture, Cirrus co-developers Lendlease and Magellan Development Group ensured most floor plans are laid out to feature a foyer ideal for showcasing artwork or other sophisticated décor elements, and thereby imprinting a favorable and indelible first impression on guests.
“For many, first impressions of a building start with the exterior. And because Cirrus will forever change Chicago’s lakefront skyline, a lot of thought went into the impression the tower will make both from a distance and as people approach the building,” said Ted Weldon, the executive general manager for the Chicago office of Lendlease. “Our intention was to carry this visual welcome through to the lobby, where floor-to-ceiling windows allow residents and guests to enjoy seasonal Lake Michigan views. The foyers in individual residences are intended to create a similar sense of arrival, with some offering direct sight lines toward the lake and others providing ample space for artwork and other showpieces.”
Immediate connection
Another example of the foyer-favoring phenomenon is found at Oleander, a 384-unit Brookhaven, Ga. luxury rental apartment community developed by Toll Brothers Apartment Living. Psychographic research convinced award-winning interior design firm Mary Cook Associates the rental community’s residents would find inspiration in a holistic design focused on living well. In addition, that research indicated their preference would be for sophisticated, comfortable, multi-purpose and restorative interior spaces. Upon entering Oleander’s carefully-curated design, guests feel an immediate connection to the space.
“A graceful, suspended sculpture punctuates the entry, peaking curiosity,” says Mary Cook Associates founder and president Mary Cook. “Unobstructed views through the space and out to the water feature and pool exhilarate the senses. It has a delightful visual impact.”