Leaded Rondel Glass Door

This private elevator vestibule in a 1920’s Chicago Co-op will make you want to stay a little longer. The hero of the space is the front entry door which embraces the slowness of craft and the beauty of objects created by human hand. Partnering with Chicago’s oldest stained-glass studio, we quickly found that sourcing the rondels - which are primarily blown in Germany - was going to be a challenge. Our extensive joint research led us to a Kansas City based glass blowing studio, who’s primary focus happens to be rondels. Once completed, the rondels were carefully packaged and shipped to Chicago where the leading process began. Between each rondel is a diamond shaped dimpled piece of translucent glass. Horizontal support bars were strategically incorporated into the panel to support the weight of the final layout of 7 rondels wide by 18 rondels high. Once fully leaded, the panel was transported to a custom millwork shop in Chicago where the wood doors’ stiles and rails were custom fabricated around the glass panel. The profiles were carefully matched to the historical profiles found throughout the building. After installation on site, the door was hand painted in a deep blue to match the surrounding space. The result is a testament to preserving traditional craftsmanship and the beauty of handmade.