ARCH 273 Eco-Lounge Ensembles
1/8” = 1’-0” (36” x 36”)
The project goal was to create a “village” for a Superfund site in East Chicago, Indiana that was affected by industrial age lead and arsenic pollution in the soil and water. This project serves as both a community lounge and a remediation center. The architecture facilitates a 100-year healing process, allowing humans to care for the land while providing habitat for non-human life. This “village” included a composition of 12 “elements with max 1,200 sq ft per element only permitted single-ridgeline roofs, specific rectangular apertures, and no double-curved surfaces. This was designed to evolve and weather over a century.
This superfund site is in close proximity to an elementary school for my Eco-Lounge. I designed a park / educational camp space that cleaned river water and was a space to study and teach about soil remediation for this site. This site is productively educational and serves as a recreational space for children getting out of class. This site includes a Main hill observation deck, lab / observatory, classrooms, greenhouse, recreational water activities shack, garden pens, pier, and many explorational buildings.
My project is anchored by the concept of water ripples radiating outward to organize the site. Pathways carve through these grass ripples, guiding visitors toward central nodes and curated viewpoints. At the base of the hill, the design evokes the feeling of running through a field of tall grass. This creates a moment of mystery and frolicking where the path ahead is obscured. Rising from these ripples are lily pad plinths that invite vertical exploration where visitors can shelter beneath or climb atop them and explore the playful pavilions with views of the site. Ultimately, the goal is to capture a sense of childlike wonder, encouraging people to explore the space with curiosity and joy.
