In Chicago, and many other cities, artists are in the vanguard of neighborhood revitalization. They move into run-down areas, demonstrate their viability, and inadvertently sow the seeds of their own demise as the area is gentrified and they must move to find cheaper accommodations.
This unrealized project to rehabilitate a five-story department store from the 1920s, proposes to provide permanent work/live space for artists, on the upper floors, with ground floor galleries and retail, basement workshops, and a sculpture court on the roof. Apartments are intended for working artists. A Board heading the cooperative structure would develop and apply standards for ensuring all units would be rented or sold to serious artists. Resale profits would be limited and any sales would be to artists.
Units are designed to maximize room for working. The studio area is located adjacent to the windows, and bedrooms, baths and kitchens are configured to minimum workable sizes. Two large elevators provide access to the basement workshops and the rooftop sculpture garden, which would function as both outdoor work space and gathering area for the whole building.
Targeted to achieve a LEED Silver level, the site has excellent transit access, and nearby shopping to help reduce the need to drive. A neighborhood-based car sharing program would include some larger vehicles for getting larger-scale supplies and moving art.
Passive solar would generate about 30% of the winter heating need. Rooftop panels would provide domestic hot water and supplement high-efficiency forced air systems in each unit. Ventilation system would be installed to limit potential contamination from toxic artists' materials. A program would be created to research and make available safer alternatives to traditional materials.
This project began with a City of Chicago Request for Proposals. Although another developer prevailed, this proposal has opened the door for future artist housing. The City has just offered a new piece of property for exclusive development by this client and we are working with them on a design for this new location.
Completed as Prinicipal-in-Charge and Director of Architecture with Farr Associates
