Generated by All in One SEO v5.0.1.1, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Robert J. Neylan Architects, Ltd. ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://rjnarch.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Pages - [Home](https://rjnarch.com/) - Robert J. Neylan Architects, Ltd. Is an award winning architectural design firm located in Chicago. - [Portfolio](https://rjnarch.com/portfolio/) - A diverse selection of work from projects located across the country. - [Process](https://rjnarch.com/process/) - The methods and considerations used whe the design is formulated, developed, and communicated. - [Profile](https://rjnarch.com/profile/) - The firm design philosophy, awards, publications and contact information ## Projects - [Reflecting Pool](https://rjnarch.com/projects/reflecting-pool/) - Remodel and addition to a simple rectangular house on Lake Michigan. Includes an all glass upper floor connected by a floating stairway and bridge, a deck, screen porch, and a sixty foot infinity edge pool. The glass rooms include floor to ceiling stacking glass doors and a deep metal overhang to maximize the connection with the site even in bad weather. - [Telescope House](https://rjnarch.com/projects/telescope-house/) - Located on a long narrow lot on the eastern shores of Lake Michigan, the house brings views of the water into all the major living spaces while maintaining privacy on the long sides. The lake side of the house focuses light into the interior with floor to ceiling glass under soaring roof planes. Compressed between the garage and their neighbor, a covered walk along a wood clad wall terminates at a stone barrier by the front door with a thin slot creating a scope to the lake view ahead. - [Vineyard Compound](https://rjnarch.com/projects/vineyard-compound/) - Sited on the edge of a Michigan vineyard, the grouping of structures wrap an elevated terrace overlooking rows of grape vines. A main house, guest house, and screen porch line the edges of the pool deck with the open side facing the fields which reflect in the infinity edge pool. The bedrooms are located at ground-level to give the upper-level living spaces a panoramic view of the grounds. The exteriors are inspired by utilitarian farming materials as elements of rusted Corten steel, weathered wood planks, and galvanized tie rods interconnect. - [Translucens](https://rjnarch.com/projects/translucens/) - This 15,000 square foot steel and glass structure serves a dual function as both an art gallery and a residence. The building surrounds a two story courtyard with numerous water features and an upper level sculpture garden. 2006 AIA Distinguished Building Award - [Alcott Field of Dreams](https://rjnarch.com/projects/alcott-field-of-dreams/) - The remodeling of two playground areas, a new artificial turf field, and an outdoor amphitheater for an urban public school. The design captures rainwater and retains it to slowly be absorbed into the ground avoiding unnecessary sewage treatment. The design is meant to encourage creativity, learning, activity, and fun. - [Ave Aquatica](https://rjnarch.com/projects/ave-aquatica/) - The form of this 7,500 square foot residence is inspired by its location soaring at the top of a Lake Michigan bluff. The building is oriented around a central spine connecting the interior spaces to the lake view. Natural stone and cedar juxtapose canted glass and metal planes to infuse the spaces with energy. - [Park House](https://rjnarch.com/projects/park-house/) - The 7,000 square foot house is built into the base of a hill with a public park to the front of the property. The house is designed to have a series of private terraces on two levels which are buffered from the public entrance. Light shafts are designed into the house allowing clear views from the ground floor to a glass third level loft. To reduce its environmental footprint and reliance on fossil fuels, the house is heated and cooled with geothermal wells which transfer energy from the water table. - [Open Plan](https://rjnarch.com/projects/open-plan/) - A weekend residence adjacent to Lake Michigan consists of a swimming pool, outdoor terraces, screen porch and a 1,800 square foot open plan building all oriented towards an undeveloped wetlands. The design functions both as an intimate retreat and as a facility to host large gatherings. - [Aisling](https://rjnarch.com/projects/aisling/) - “Aising” is a Gaelic word meaning “a vision or dream”. The owners are of Irish decent and had belief that a lake house could become a hub for family and friends to gather and enjoy the natural setting. The central space is a single pavilion enclosing both interior and exterior spaces separated by sliding glass walls which retract into a center stone pylon. The exterior space can be screened off with long span roll down screens. The public pavilion is separated from the sleeping quarters with a limestone wall which slices through the two masses. - [Bridgehouse](https://rjnarch.com/projects/bridgehouse/) - Sited along Lake Michigan, the residence rises above the dunes and forests which enclose it on all sides to peer out above the natural landscape to the waters beyond. A suspension bridge like structure reaches out to the top of the dune to minimize the impact to the habitat. All trees and grasses are left intact to ensure the stability of the dunes and to maintain the natural setting. - [Gezelligheid](https://rjnarch.com/projects/gezelligheid/) - Sitting on the edge of Lake Michigan, the residence is a series of solids and voids wrapping around a steel skeletal frame. The voids create secluded spaces while the solids screened off interior and exterior spaces from the neighboring houses. The frames are infilled with glass where lake and forest views are possible and with solid panels where privacy is desired. The soaring roof plan opens to the lake exposure and maximizes the natural light. - [Scuderia](https://rjnarch.com/projects/scuderia/) - Situated on a 1,200-acre horse farm in western Illinois, this compound of buildings sits mid-way up a hill overlooking the horse stables and the Mississippi valley. The compound is centered around a main lodge with a bi-level terrace, screen porch, and pool. Corrugated Corten siding, reclaimed barn wood, and locally quarried stone make up the interior and exterior materials. Clerestory windows naturally illuminate most of the interiors. The commitment to living off of the land meant the incorporation of geothermal heating and an extensive solar electric array which leave little need for fossil fuels. - [Folly](https://rjnarch.com/projects/folly/) - A modern interpretation of the English tradition of building outbuildings on a large estate as events to explore. The one room pavilion overlooks a stream and meadow visible through three glass folding walls under a roof which slopes up in two directions. A kitchenette and bathroom are inserted as boxes in the space clad in traditional Japanese shou-sugi-ban siding. The roof is supported on three stone piers along the window walls and folds down to become the angled rear wall. - [Urban Courtyard](https://rjnarch.com/projects/urban-courtyard/) - An 8,000 square foot residence on two and a half city lots organized around a courtyard accessible through 2 sets of retracting glass doors. A glass third story loft leads onto a large roof deck and creates a lightshaft through the central stairway. The exterior facade is broken into a series of smaller volumes to blend in with the scale of the surrounding neighborhood. - [Des Moines Sanctuary](https://rjnarch.com/projects/des-moines-sanctuary/) - An 8,000 square foot residence opens out onto a large wooded valley. The two story great room is flanked by bedroom wings on both sides to minimize views of the neighboring houses. The design emphasized simple forms and expression of materials native to the surroundings. A lower level indoor basketball court is partially enclosed with an aircraft hanger door allowing for half court winter use. - [Anguilla](https://rjnarch.com/projects/anguilla/) - A residential compound composed of four interconnected meandering pavilions. The roof planes rise up from the base meeting like colliding tectonic plates creating clearstory windows below the roof extensions. The organic snake-like shape and materials are informed by the wooded beach dune site. ## Categories - [Aisling](https://rjnarch.com/media-category/aisling/) - [Translucens](https://rjnarch.com/media-category/translucens/) - [Ave Aquatica](https://rjnarch.com/media-category/ave-aquatica/) - [philosophy](https://rjnarch.com/media-category/philosophy/) - [Bridgehouse](https://rjnarch.com/media-category/bridgehouse/) - [Gezelligheid](https://rjnarch.com/media-category/gezelligheid/) - [Scuderia](https://rjnarch.com/media-category/scuderia/) - [Park House](https://rjnarch.com/media-category/park-house/) - [Folly](https://rjnarch.com/media-category/folly/) - [Urban Courtyard](https://rjnarch.com/media-category/urban-courtyard/) - [Reflecting Pool](https://rjnarch.com/media-category/reflecting-pool/) - [Des Moines Sanctuary](https://rjnarch.com/media-category/des-moines-sanctuary/) - [Open Plan](https://rjnarch.com/media-category/open-plan/) - [Vineyard](https://rjnarch.com/media-category/vineyard/) - [Telescope house](https://rjnarch.com/media-category/telescope-house/) - [Anguilla](https://rjnarch.com/media-category/anguilla/) - [Alcott](https://rjnarch.com/media-category/alcott/)