Upside Down

Idea projektu

Upside Down is a community/art center on the north bank of the Chicago river. It is a symbol of a new architecture that permeates beyond a building, into the street where it integrates into the city fabric and engages the users and becomes a catalyst for urban public life. The project aims is to physically bridge the two levels of the city while respecting the distinct atmospheres created by them and the history of their existence. It looks to utilize the existing conditions to offer unique programmatic experiences that cater to both the community and the city at large.

The project celebrates the history and tradition of the River as a constantly evolving body of water that reimagines itself to suit the needs of the city - from supporting the industrial establishments in the past to its current role in creating better urban public spaces for the people and speculates on the next iteration of this evolution to create and support sustainable ecosystems.

Popis projektu

The Contoured Landscape which becomes an urban public park bridges the two levels while creating multiple access points and paths. The landscape divides Upside Down into two halves: The urban park and the underbelly. The Underbelly, inspired by the industrial past of the city and the current usage of the lower level of Chicago, is an infrastructural level. The design takes advantage of the environment within this level and remixes it into an experiential space capable of supporting and enhancing a multitude of experience driven programs.

The landscape is punctuated by four volumes of programmed spaces - Admin, Commercial, Art, and Auditorium; each housing different programs that are similar or interdependent on one another. These volumes are then wrapped with a phase-changing membrane that helps regulate the temperature within and also transforms the facade of these volumes into giant electronic displays. These volumes penetrate to the underbelly at different thresholds, while the commercial and art blocks occupy both levels with programs spilling out into the underbelly, the programs within the admin block only exist within the landscape half and auditorium only the underbelly. The entire landscape is supported by a grid of columns, with each column housing various systems that support Upside Down. Some of these columns also function as elevators connecting the Underbelly and the Contoured Landscape.

Upside Down sets the stage for a better urban public life where everyone can take advantage of the space and its amenities. More importantly, it allows the users flexibility of interacting with the architecture in multiple ways that interest them, giving rise to a collage of public programs that liven the city life.

Technické informace

Location : 320 E North Water, Chicago, IL, USA
Site : 45,000 Sq.Ft
Max Occupancy : 1830