The densely built fabric of the Chicago’s traditional residential homes often sacrifice privacy for light, or vis versa, in the name of economically efficient development. Wood House is an exercise in the balance of openness and privacy in this tight urban setting. Views and light are calibrated throughout to provide moments of comfort, introspection, and calmness. The second floor is washed with northern and eastern light, perfect for sleeping, while the third floor takes advantage of access to terraced outdoor space with views of the Chicago skyline. Wood House provides a specific level of solitude without rejecting the city it is so integrally built into.