Closer look at 2016 Chicago Prize: On the Edge winner, “Lattices on the Drive”

The winners of the 2016 Chicago Prize: “On the Edge” were recently revealed. Launched by the Chicago Architectural Club and the Chicago Architecture Foundation late last year, the latest edition of the biennial ideas competition challenged entrants to design speculative architectural interventions that rethink the connection between Chicago's Lake Shore Drive to the city's iconic waterfront, “in consideration of the stated issues that imagine and speculate its scape”. The city's iconic lakefront has grown into a hotspot for land-use disputes, as demonstrated in recent situations like the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, the Barack H. Obama Presidential Library (which was the 2014 Chicago Prize topic), or the effects of Lake Shore Drive.

During the “On the Edge” exhibition opening earlier this month, ”Lattices on the Drive” by Kwong Von Glinow Design Office of Lake Forest, Illinois was announced as the grand prize winner. “Aerial Greenway” by Tullio Polisi & Michael Graceffa and “Open Source (OS) Edge Network” by Loren Johnson received honorable mentions.

Kwong Von Glinow Design Office shared more details about their winning entry, which you can check out below.

Project description:

“Chicagoans are passionate about their city, the lake, and even the highway - the famous Lake Shore Drive.  Our project seeks to intensify the experience of Lake Shore Drive by providing pedestrian access along the Drive.  Lake Shore Drive is no longer a driving-only experience.  For the pedestrian, it becomes a gateway to access the waterfront, see the city, and admire the Lake.”

“Chicago is known for its post-and-beam, steel-frame construction which provides the bones for all of the magnificent buildings in the city.  The idea of the open-lattice structures takes on the fundamental, bare bones of steel-frame construction without the need of a facade.  As seen from Lake Shore Drive, the lattice structures serve as successive landmarks for the underpasses below.”

“From many blocks away, the lattice structure at each underpass serves as a signal that the lakefront is just beyond.  Each Grand Entrance is a unique figure that gives an identity to each access street.”

“The north- and south-bound lanes of Lake Shore Drive often split, creating an in-between space that is open to above.  We use this space as an opportunity to give the pedestrian a vertical access point above Lake Shore Drive by inserting a lattice structure.  For the first time, the pedestrian can enjoy views to the lake and city above Lake Shore Drive.”

Lattices on the Drive and the honorable mention entries are currently on display at the Chicago Architecture Foundation through June. Learn more about the top entries here.

Also check out previous Chicago Prize results in the links below.