The design and history behind Soho House Chicago

The West Loop neighbourhood in Chicago has a long industrial history and is home to many former factory buildings – including the five-storey Allis Building, where Soho House Chicago has been located since 2014. Commissioned by industrialist, art collector and philanthropist Charles Allis back in 1907, it operated as the headquarters of the Chicago Belting Company and later a rubber goods factory, before it was sold by the great-great-great-grand-niece of Allis in 2010.

In 2014, when looking to open a House in the city, Soho House Founder Nick Jones was introduced to the spacious warehouse and knew it was the perfect spot. ‘It had so much soul,’ says Jones. ‘There was lots of room for everything we wanted to do with the place, too – we were able to create the most amazing gym with a big boxing ring, for example. That felt authentic to the city.’

For the interiors, the team looked to the building’s industrial past, embracing and emphasising its historic features. ‘We wanted the design details to celebrate the West Loop district – that “grit” that is present from years of it being the home of factories and warehouses,’ says Danielle Vourlas, Director of Soho House Design, North America.

Elements of the original building were kept and repurposed throughout the House: the water tower on the roof, which was deemed structurally unsound, was removed plank by plank and turned into a mural in the lobby; the marble mosaic at the entrance was reformed to spell out ‘Allis Building’; and the last remaining tannery in Chicago, Horween Leather Company, assisted in the design of the boxing gym equipment.

‘We wanted to create a vintage gym style and training facilities,’ Vourlas says of the recently refurbished boxing ring. ‘Boxing is a big sport in Chicago and the House has hosted many fight nights for members. It’s an amazing experience.’

‘We sought to keep the interior design relaxed, with statement colours and textures in the furniture, which juxtaposed the exposed brickwork and metal details in the windows and lighting,’ says Vourlas. ‘With such an open warehouse space it was important to create intimate areas where members could eat, relax or work. We did this by placing the bar right in the middle of the floor, which draws the entire energy of the House. By layering different seating areas around the bar, opening the House Kitchen to the dining room, and layering with drapery, art and rugs, the space came to life.’ 

In the bedrooms, the industrial feel of the building was softened with plaid carpet, curtains and large beds, which created a balance against the high ceilings and rough materiality throughout. ‘It was important to keep the brickwork throughout the House to honour the history of the building. This same principle was applied to the bathrooms, where we used American pre-war tiles and fixtures, sourcing vintage pieces and focusing on traditional craftsmanship.’ 

The rooftop is one of the most special areas in the House – but also took the most consideration during the development of the space. ‘Getting a rooftop pool in Chicago was a big feat,’ says Vourlas. ‘Due to the city’s cold winters, it tends to only be in use during the spring and summer months. So, our aim was to design the rooftop in a way that gave members the feeling of being outdoors all year round, even when they’re actually inside. We’ve used lots of glass, with seating that can be really flexible to the needs of the members.’

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