Architects take visual cues from surrounding areas

When designing a new condominium community in an already established residential neighborhood, it's important for the new kid on the block to fit in. Developers are turning to architectural styles that will blend nicely with existing homes in communities such as Lake Forest, Forest Park and Hinsdale.

Amberley Woods

Residential Homes of America Inc. is building Amberley Woods in Lake Forest. This heavily wooded, maintenance-free community spans over 38 acres, with 90 condominiums in two, four-story buildings priced from the low $500s.

The buildings display a classic English country architectural style with brick and stone exteriors topped by cedar shake roofs.

"Amberley Woods was carefully planned by maintaining the original English country architecture of the historic Blithefield estate on which it is built, while at the same time preserving the century old trees and prestige of a Lake Forest address," said Ann Danner, owner/president of RHA. "As testament to the architectural integrity of the building, we have received great response and support from our neighbors in the community as to the beauty of the building and preservation of this unique and beautiful site."

The wooded community with three ponds will also include 24 single-family homes. Base prices start in the low $500s and range up to nearly $1 million.

For details, call (847) 482-0600 or visit rhahomes.com.

The Residences at the Grove

Focus Development chose a modern version of the European craftsmen style of architecture at The Residences at the Grove in Forest Park.

The community has 140 one- to three-bedroom condominiums in two contemporary five-story buildings and 60 European-style townhouses. Condos and townhouses are priced from the $240,000s to the $450,000s. The buildings use warm materials such as red masonry, colored siding and stone accents to create an authentic and distinguished neighborhood, said Tim Anderson, president of Focus Development.

"We complemented and played off the adjacent European-style architecture. I think with infill development we need to provide new living environments that work with today's lifestyles, but we can do that in an architecture that is sympathetic to the surrounding built environment," Anderson said.

Anderson notes that when designing the community, which is located near the village's business district, it was vital to have his buildings meld into the existing neighborhood.

Homeowners also enjoy the community's proximity to the train and downtown Chicago, as well as the green roof terraces, fitness center and community room connected by a garden. Call (708) 366-7665 for information or visit www.focusdevelopment.com.

Hamptons of Hinsdale

Hinsdale has residential styles ranging from Georgians, Queen Annes and Craftsman bungalows to Dutch colonials and turn-of-the-century Tudors.

Developers of The Hamptons of Hinsdale wanted the community of 93 Abbeys condominiums and 26 Villas townhouses to blend with the neighborhood's existing buildings.

"We spent an incredible amount of time studying the surrounding architecture and planning the look and design of The Hamptons of Hinsdale," said Hank Haff, partner with GSH Development. "We knew that our building exteriors had to harmonize well with the older, more traditional homes in the area. Yet we were aiming for an exciting departure from the conventional, too - something that wouldn't yield bland elevations and boxy, flat, uninteresting rooflines."

Haff and partner Don Price of Wexford Development selected shingle style, a design reminiscent of small seaside towns in New England around 1874 to 1910. Shingles incorporated in the siding and roof, staggered rooflines, cross gables and eaves on multiple levels characterize the style.

BSB Design, a Palatine-based residential architectural design firm, designed three- and four-story mid-rise buildings highlighted by natural stone, stone-accented authentic stucco, maintenance-free shingle siding, textured architectural asphalt shingle and copper roofing and oversized aluminum gutters and downspouts.

"The New England shingle style is very free-form and asymmetrical, blending different shapes and contours. This style is casually elegant and a very appropriate look for this community. We feel like this style really captures the 'Hinsdale look,' " said architect Dan O'Malley, a partner with BSB Design.

BSB added covered entryways and stone piers at all entries to the condominiums.

Part of the design challenge, according to O'Malley, was to keep the elevation below the 50-foot maximum height stipulated by the village. BSB designed smaller, recognizable elements of scale, including forward-placed fireplace chimneys.

"Usually, chimneys are placed near the rear or simple direct vent types are used so you don't even see a chimney cap. But we chose to integrate the chimneys into our rooflines and make them iconic elements of the architecture by wrapping them in stone," O'Malley said.

Base prices range from $695,000 to $940,000, and sizes span 2,473 to 2,817 square feet. For information, call (630) 654-0200 or visit www.TheHamptonsofHinsdale.com.