Cortez House, Chicago — Adaptive Reuse of a Historic Butcher Shop with a Corten-Clad Addition

There was a time when nearly every city block featured a small corner shop: a neighborhood store where locals could buy groceries, pick up supplies, and find whatever they needed. These shops often occupied the ground floor of mixed-use buildings, with the proprietor living above. While that typology is becoming less common, the Cortez House in Chicago, renovated by moss Design, revives the character and practicality of those older storefront homes. The project transforms a former retail space in a busy Chicago neighborhood into a contemporary residence that preserves the building’s historic essence while adding modern comfort and efficient living spaces.

Corten rear addition adds additional space to this revamped butcher shop in Chicago

The renovation honors the building’s past by restoring key features of the original retail space. A historic Bromann Brothers cooler remains intact, preserved as a nod to the site’s previous life and repurposed to suit the needs of the new homeowners. Beyond these preserved elements, the house opens up into a more contemporary interior. A corten-clad addition now extends from the rear, creating additional volume and accommodating a new upper-level master suite with two bedrooms and a bathroom. Brick, metal, and glass are combined thoughtfully to bridge the historic Chicago common brick facade with the warmer, minimalist interiors.

Rear yard offers space for a little bit of gardening

Inside, the palette remains neutral and restrained, emphasizing daylight, natural materials, and clean lines. The corten steel exterior develops a protective, rust-like patina over time that visually connects to the weathered Chicago brick, while a careful wall assembly ensures moisture drains away from the structure rather than into the home. This balance of old and new—restored elements paired with contemporary additions—creates a residence that feels at once rooted in the neighborhood and tailored to modern living.

Restored cooler wall dividing the workshop from the main living space

The layout retains traces of the building’s former program while adapting the floor plan for contemporary domestic functions. Generous glazing and interior glass walls invite daylight into deep plan spaces, especially in the upper-level master suite where glass partitions allow light to wash across sleeping and living areas. Original brick surfaces are left exposed in places to provide texture and a tangible connection to the building’s past; in other areas, warm wood finishes and simple white walls keep interiors bright and serene.

View inside the more modern interior of the Cortez House

Wooden railing for the staircase with dark metallic bars on the edge

Furring strips were attached to the exterior face so the corten could be mounted to them. This detailing creates a drainage plane behind the corten siding, allowing water that gets behind the panels to escape safely rather than enter the building. Beyond its visual appeal, corten develops a stable, protective surface over time that harmonizes well with the existing Chicago common brick on the rest of the structure.

Corten steel panels create a greener and more interesting home

Bathrooms and finish details echo the house’s thoughtful contrast between heritage and contemporary design. Patterned black-and-white floor tiles, a bold blue vanity, and glass-walled showers are paired with simple, high-quality fixtures that support day-to-day living. A compact upper-level sitting area offers a cozy retreat, framed by exposed brick and carefully considered daylighting.

Large hallway of the home in white with ample natural light and wood walls for the room

Master bedroom of the home on the upper level with glass walls that usher in ample natural light

Small, upper level sitting space and living area of the home with an exposed brick wall

Tiles in black and white add pattern to the bathroom floor

Blue vanity for the bathroom adds color and contrast to the space

Glass shower area for the bathroom in white with a modern appeal

Guest bathroom in white with pops of black and gold that bring contrast

Floor plan of the revamped Cortez Street House

The Cortez House is a strong example of adaptive reuse in an urban setting: it preserves and highlights historical features while introducing new construction that responds to contemporary needs. By thoughtfully integrating the old cooler and storefront elements with a carefully detailed corten addition, the project achieves a layered architectural narrative—celebrating the building’s past, improving its performance, and offering a comfortable, modern home for the present.