Paus'ing' Kiosk
Chicago Architecture Biennial
Strategy_The idea will be realized through creating a simple box, with the homogenous interior of the floors and walls which helps transforming the space into a three dimensional excavation.
This internal complexity will be a tangible experience of space for the visitors in the Chicago Architecture Biennial.
Courtyard_A simple box that is a recognizable form to all kind of users in any age, is a natural invitation for the public, while outer simplicity transforms its shape to inner complexity by rotating the geometry of the internal court, the users will no longer have the sense of orientation of the context. Once they enter
the urban court the city as well as the lake are lost; the same happens when the kiosk located within the Millennium park.
Kiosk_As the physical body of the void with the rotated geometry gets elevated, other elements such as the entrance of the kiosk or the sitting area acquire their geometry from the non-rotated box and that is how the inner court becomes a complex space with the combination of two orientations.
Staircase_The court remains a close space to the surrounding with exits which are both indirect towards outside, therefore the main visible connection to the outside is the sky and the staircase which leads to it; climbing the stairs, disconnecting from the soil to reach the sky and abruptly discovering the orientation, the lake front as well as the city and the park.
Interaction/ lake front location_The complexity and contradiction inside the urban court is not only caused by different orientations, but also by the interaction of nature and artefact; how outside changes its last image in mind by the interior spatial tornado and how an exterior linear public space converts its dynamic-ism to an interior intimate scale by an urban inclosure pause. With this explanation, the chosen site is also an “intersection” of urban directions, an urban edge to accentuate on this landmark, to complete an urban system between junctions and breakwater. The interactive relationship with the urban texture is not only at this scale but also in the more intimate scale; the kiosk has accessibility from both inside (court) and outside, when the outside door is open, the simple geometry opens through to the public, organizing the exterior space for different uses with its different angles (advantage of pivot door). The court typology supports the use of space during the off-season months. Leaving the outside and inside (the court) doors of the kiosk, urban actors (e.g.lecturers, musicians, authors in book reading sessions and etc...) can perform inside while the public can pass by (adding the quality to the medium speed urban activities) or stop for a short pause in the court where the air is slightly protected by the enclosure walls and volumes (adding quality to the low speed urban activities) as well as light installations out from the court or on the exterior white open door of the kiosk (adding quality to the high speed urban activities). That is how the kiosk plays an interactive role for the lake front landscape.
Feasibility and transportation_All the materials used in the project can be easily transported on 1 truck. After each transportation, the materials and finishes only need to be fixed in a minimum way which will take 1 day for 1 worker.
Chicago Architectural Biennal_Taking into consideration the inner complexity and disorientation of the spaces inside the court, one of the many activities during the Chicago Architecture Biennial will be the combination of silent video art on the physical elevated body of the void while the group of musicians are inside the kiosk, audiences can stay with the music band inside the kiosk or they can explore more by staying in the court or climbing up the stairs while watching the video on 4 elevated walls around the court. The aim is to create a flexible platform for a wide range of activities.
