My goal of this semester long assignment was to understand how to create a safe, welcoming, and comfortable space for families to reside. I used organic curves to create a lighter more welcoming feeling. Each resident was provided a space to nourish, cleanse, revive, reflect and celebrate in each residential unit. The units have floor to ceiling windows for natural light and ventilation, lofted bedrooms for privacy, high ceilings for comfortability, and a private balcony. Each residential floor unit has a community balcony protected from the main source of wind by perforated screens. To accommodate the guests of the retail spaces on the ground floor, I created a beautiful and efficient streetscape. The most important components of a streetscape include creating a connection between the indoor and outdoor spaces, appropriate landscaping, weather protection, and extra sidewalk space to enter these spaces. I set back the building 5 feet off of the property line to allow doors to open easily without obstructing the path of people walking by. To help with the direction of the busy Chicago sidewalk traffic, I used potted plants and trees as landscaping to separate the direction in which people can walk. While studying other streetscapes, I also found an appreciation in the fluctuation in the facade that allows people to find protection in bad weather. The balconies extend 5 ft over the site line to help with this rain and snow protection. The 12 foot non reflective windows in each retail space allow for people walking by to connect with the interior and gives opportunity for the people on the interior to observe and protect the street.
