Kwong Von Glinow is an award-winning architecture practice based in Chicago founded on the belief that architecture is meant to be enjoyed. The practice builds the thoroughly enjoyable from the slightly familiar. Kwong Von Glinow’s work translates forward-looking architectural concepts into playful designs with broad appeal. Taking an optimistic and explorative approach, the practice focuses on creating innovative living environments, places for cultural engagement, urban public space, and contemporary workspaces. The office was founded in 2017 by Lap Chi Kwong and Alison Von Glinow and has delivered projects ranging from single-family homes to multi-family residential buildings, public and cultural spaces, exhibitions, and designed objects.
The firm’s current projects include the renovation of and addition to a 13,000 square foot Howard Van Doren Shaw home in Highland Park, IL for art collectors and their family; a rooftop gallery addition to a historic greystone in Chicago; and, a three-flat with commercial storefront in Chicago. They recently completed both Ardmore House—a single family home in Chicago—and the new Swiss Consulate Chicago at the Hancock Center.
Select Practice Awards
2021 AN Interior Top 50 Architects
2020 "Next Progressive" by Architect Magazine
2019 Artists-in-Residence at IIT
2019 Graham Foundation Grant to Individuals, Smuggling Architecture
2018 Architectural League Prize for Young Architects
2017 Wallpaper* Magazine’s list of top 20 Emerging Practices
Select Project Awards
2021 Best of Design, The Architect’s Newspaper, Residential Single Unit, Ardmore House
2021 AIA Illinois for Excellence in Interiors, Ardmore House
2021 AIA Chicago, Distinguished Building, Citation of Merit, Ardmore House
2021 AIA Chicago, Interior Architecture, Citation of Merit, Swiss Consulate
2021 AIA Chicago Small Project Honor Award, Ardmore House
2019 1st Prize Designing a Better Chicago, Give me a minute, please!
2017 1st Prize Hong Kong Housing, Towers within a Tower
2017 AIA Brooklyn, 2017 People’s Choice, Table Top Apartments
2017 1st Prize New York Housing, Table Top Apartments
2017 1st Prize, 2016 Chicago Prize, Grand Lattices
Lap Chi Kwong
Visiting Lecturer
Master of Architecture I AP, Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies, University of Washington
Kwong Von Glinow
Lap Chi earned his Masters of Architecture from the Harvard Graduate School of Design and his undergraduate degree from the University of Washington. Before co-founding Kwong Von Glinow, Lap Chi worked with the Pritzker Prize-winning offices of Herzog & de Meuron and Amateur Architecture Studio on cultural projects, single-family houses, and multi-family residential buildings, including the M+ Museum in Hong Kong, the Vancouver Art Gallery, and the Kramlich Residence & Gallery in California. Lap Chi spent his early life in Hong Kong before moving to Seattle for his undergraduate education.
Alison Von Glinow
Visiting Lecturer
Master of Architecture I, Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, Barnard College, Columbia University
Kwong Von Glinow
Alison earned her Masters of Architecture from the Harvard Graduate School of Design and her undergraduate degree from Barnard College. Before co-founding Kwong Von Glinow, Alison worked with internationally acclaimed practices around the world including Herzog & de Meuron in Basel, Switzerland; SOM in both Chicago and New York; Toshiko Mori Architect in New York; and Svendborg Architects in Copenhagen, Denmark. Alison is Co-President of the Chicago Architectural Club. Alison is a licensed Architect in the states of Illinois and New York, AIA Chicago member, and a member of New York’s Urban Design Forum.
