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moss’ newest brewery project, Begyle Brewing (formerly Argyle Brewing Co.) models itself after the increasingly popular CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) and is Chicago’s first “CSB” (Community Supported Brewery). Founders Matt Ritchey, Kevin Cary and Brendan Blume decided to start their subscription based brewery after a few brainstorming sessions. Like CSAs, members will receive a share of craft beer on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis. Begyle is expected to open its craft beer programs starting this summer.
Though it’s new to Chicago’s shores, community-sustained brewing finds its roots deep in German history. In the 13th and 14th centuries, central brewhouses in each town would produce the liquid base of beer, called the wort, which was then collected by individual citizens. These select few would ferment the wort, and then place a special sign on their door (Zoigl, pictured above.) The six-pointed star looks just like a Star of David, but it’s actually a brewer’s star, one point for each beer-making element: hops, yeast, malt, grain, water and brewer. The Zoigl signaled to townsfolk that their neighbor had opened a temporary, communal pub in his home, a.k.a., to come over and have a cold one. After the beer from that house was gone, the next homebrewer would collect his wort and so the good people of the town were never without local beer (one hopes.)
Prone though Chicago is to crazy weather indecision, a March this sunny exceeded our expectations. Not that we didn’t already skip over a winter that was predicted to create a mass exodus from the Windy City this past season (we’re still here). We keep hearing about record-breaking temperatures all over the map, but we want superlatives this afternoon. So, what was the coldest Chicago winter day? And how did this one stack up?
Our work at Flirty Cupcakes dessert garage featured in Design Sponge.
Check out the article here.
Original project post here.
Last month Northside real estate broker Eric Rojas came by for a visit and video shoot. Click over to Eric’s blog to see the full tour here.
Traditionally, Valentine’s Day gifts fall somewhere between chocolate, flowers and jewelry, (not that we’re complaining) so it’s not terribly surprising that most of us aren’t on the receiving end of buildings, chairs or corinthian columns this Valentine’s Day. But monuments built to honor love aren’t as rare as you might think, and not only among royalty and billionaires.
We peeled back 70 years of dirt, grime and funky looking remodelings of a historic Traverse City opera house to restore its original luster and charm. The result is Brew, a coffeehouse and gastropub with a mighty list of local beer that uses repurposed elements to connect the city with its roots. Brew occupies the bottom floor of the 100-year-old opera house, whose maple floors, yellow masonry and rustic tin ceiling have been rescued from years of neglect. Windows that were obstructed by more recent construction work are incorporated into the new design to flood the space with natural light.
It’s not just the centenarian opera house that gives Brew it’s ultra-local construction: leftover wood from a nearby bowling alley forms sturdy tables, and wood from a old barn features in the design. Mid-century furniture lends the café a cozy, living-room feel. Pieces like the reclaimed pendant light fixtures echo the region’s sawmill history, while an old school 18-inch zinc bar with a galvanized pipe footrest rounds out the historical design elements.
A café by day (featuring locally roasted beans and a custom built pour over stand) and a tavern by night, Brew also offers food and spirits sourced from local farmers, artisans, distillers and brewmasters with continually evolving menus, cocktails and craft beer pairings. Photos and project info inside. Read the rest of this entry »
We have completed our passive house project in Lakeview, which consists of a 150 square foot addition to the second floor, bathroom and bedroom remodel, and overhaul of the west facade. Over the last 100 years the existing house received several disjointed additions and subtractions. Our clients, an extended family of five, had been sharing a way-too-small bathroom for the better part of a decade and needed an extra bedroom and more efficient space. Instead of simply adding space over the existing one-story kitchen to accommodate the new third bedroom and bathroom, our solution incorporated a previous ‘appendage’ addition into the design scheme while also taking into account solar orientation and passive design strategies. The design scheme intentionally demarcates from the existing faux-Victorian aesthetic to provide a more sustainable and relevant design methodology. Photos and details inside. Read the rest of this entry »
Our very own Dill Pickle Food Coop in Logan Square was named first runner up for best local grocer in the Chicago Reader’s annual ‘Best Of’ Edition. Flashback to our dreaming about a coop in Chicago here, its design here, and opening here.
After 100 years of disjointed additions and subtractions our project on Hermitage is about to get a serious makeover in the first phase of a robust passive design renovation. Our clients, an extended family of five, had been sharing a-way-too-small bathroom for the better part of a decade and needed some extra room and freshened space. Also, the third bedroom felt more like a generously sized closet which did not have room for much more than a bed. Instead of simply adding space over the existing one-story kitchen to accommodate the enlarged third bedroom and bathroom, our solution incorporated a previous ‘appendage’ addition into the design scheme while also taking into account solar orientation and passive design strategies. The design scheme intentionally demarcates from the existing faux-Victorian aesthetic to provide a more sustainable and relevant design methodology. Drawings and more info inside. Read the rest of this entry »
The building that will be housing the new Filter hit a bit of a snag in the Department of Zoning, which is why you haven’t heard from us in a while. Rest assured, though, the Zoning Board of Appeals has given the building a green light and we had a successful preliminary intake meeting with the Green Permit Program Wednesday. We are on pace to achieve a Silver rating under the revised LEED v3.0 rating system! Expect another update in a couple of weeks.
