Pierscape at Navy Pier Phase II Design Team Organization + ...

Design Approach + Philosophy
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Public Space: place of memory and space for imagination.
The Lakefront by right belongs to the people. It affords their great unobstructed view,
stretching away to the hoixon where water and clouds seem to meet . _Daniel Burnham, 1909
Originality arises out of fidelity to place—Chicago is a world class
city unlike any other city in the world. New or known, we
accumulate memories of places we have been, and re-imagine
ourselves in those spaces after we have gone.
In our quest for authenticity, Team X interrogates history: mines memory: vitalizes
connections: envisions possibilities: makes big plans.
A place is an inspired space.
In most contemporary environments the construction and design of new public
spaces, or the redesign and renewal of existing ones, presents opportunities
to trigger the imagination: instigating novel experiences: actuating collective and
personal memory. New or known, we accumulate memories of places we have
been and re-imagine ourselves in those spaces after we have gone. We long to
return, and often do.
Memory is sensorial.
Sights, sounds, tastes, textures, smells.
The history of a place is comprised of memories: vestigial impressions: time markers:
bridges between what was and what is: recalcitrant: desultory: invigorating: salubrious:
legendary.
To envision the future of an historical place requires an
understanding of its sensorial past.
What did it once look like, sound like, taste like, feel like, smell like What moments,
what memories, are most inspiring telling revelatory time-honored vital What
does its past bring to bear on the present What does the present bring to bear on
its past on its future What secrets might it (still) hold
These are just some of the questions and considerations underlying our collective
design philosophy.