BIG architects + AECOM: chicago navy pier proposal
BIG architects + AECOM: chicago navy pier proposal
east end park
chicago navy pier proposal by BIG architects + AECOM
the chicago navy pier competition has narrowed down its selection to
five shortlisted proposals which re-envision the design of the
pierscape,
and its outdoor public spaces, revisiting the legacy of the american
mid-west city's popular destination as its centennial approaches in
2016.
one of the five shortlisted projects is by danish firm BIG architects and american company AECOM.
considered to be one of the great living legacies of american architect and urban planner daniel burnham's plan of chicago,
the site's grand public waterfront location lacks a physical and visual connection back to the city. the team of BIG and AECOM
suggest extending the existing pier upwards by elevating public life onto the rooftops of the structures,
while restoring uninterrupted views of the windy city's famous skyline.
the design includes six main components:
east end park; pier park; crystal garden; skyline gardens; the gateway park; and the south dock.
the 'east end park' is projected to take visitors over and into the water. the existing obstruction to the view is eliminated,
revealing a perspective of the lake, the water blending seamlessly into
the sky. a lifted corner creates a space below at ground level,
housing a café / restaurant.
a stepped soft threshold is proposed in order to accommodate the fluctuation in water levels. this new public space
will allow visitors to engage much more closely with the water;
sculpturally, it will be the yin to the yang of the lifted corner to the
south.
this 'north dip' becomes a completely intimate and free experience allowing for relaxation in the sun on a man-made beach park.
stepped seating will allow for viewing a spectacular 500-foot-high
water show (designed by WET) located off the end of the pier in the
lake.
pierscape
pierscape
crystal garden - grow it, cook it, eat it
the 'crystal garden' will be an indoor public attraction that brings together sustainable food production, entertainment,
education and culinary expertise. it will feature an aquaponic nutrient / water cycle system in order to irrigate various
naturally-growing fruits and vegetables, which will respond well to the microclimate in the form of sculptural pillars -
essentially a food jungle. pedestrian circulation at ground level allows easy access and circulation for visitors.
a floating sead-like juice bar will serve products created from food grown on site. to complete the holistic system,
the food grown within the garden will be used to supply the restaurants at pier +.
crystal garden - grow it, cook it, eat it
skyline gardens
the 'skyline gardens' is an evolving tapestry of the world's finest roof gardens. arranged in an artful geometric pattern,
this green area will provide visitors with a visually rich landscape. the phasing plan, executed in collaboration
with the existing flower show, images the roof gardens growing through time to eventually encompass the
entire rooftop of the navy pier's largest building.
skyline gardens
pier park garden stairs
at the heart of the pier is the 'grand stairs' which combines a large stepped area for seating, a flat zone of slides
and medium-size steps straight to a rooftop with uninterrupted views. the massive scale of the buildings
currently constructed on the pier restricts the views back to the city.
the structure lifts the public realm over the existing site,
providing relief from the city that is not available anywhere else - becoming a place that will make the pier a destination
among city residents, rather than just tourists. as a whole, this feature is a park with a city view, offering a place to rest,
observe, play and relax, offering a landmark that is as iconic as its
public. its built-in hill, which doubles as the roof of the
proposed shakespeare theater, accommodates a series of restaurants and dining terraces looking back to the city where
one will be able to enjoy views of the sun setting behind the chicago skyline. the 'grand stairs' are meant to function
as a venue for organized concerts to personal picnic.
in colder, winter months, they will be a place of play. the smooth portion to the south will have a permanent set of slides
as a groomed area in snowy months idea for a giant set of tubing slides. in the warmer months, they will be transformed
into a playful amenity for all ages to enjoy.
pier park garden stairs in winter whereby they become snow covered and set for tobogganing
life after dark
for the project UK-based lighting designers speirs + major have developed a comprehensive luminescent design program
that will transform the pier into a magical vision amongst the chicago night-scape. with the theme 'life after dark',
the designers have created a night-time identity that combines the functional requirements of lighting delivered alongside
leisure activities of the site. micro-wind turbines on the roof will produce renewable energy to power much of the lighting.
