Noel
James Michaels
3 Acres
on The Lake: DuSable Park Proposal
My proposal
begins with a single sculptural move, a bold continuous form that accomplishes
a number of functions at once. It is an artificial landscape that detaches
itself from the existing soil by creating a new topography raised up and
over the site. The park functions as a stop over, a resting place for
joggers, bicyclists, roller-bladers and passer-bys. It also acts as a
grand stand for watching water activities as well as a platform for being
watched. It ramps at a 1:12 slope North and West forming into a curved
wall separating Lakeshore Drive from the park. The curved wall serves
to enclose the park and to block out passing traffic. Primary access to
the site is from the lower level of Lakeshore Drive where the pedestrian
path is running along side the automobile bridge connecting north with
south. A cut into the landscape penetrates through the curved wall framing
your view upon entering the site. Circular openings cut into the top surface
let light below, where there is parking, and cypress trees grow vertical
at their center, visually connecting the two spaces. The construction
of the proposal would consist of a two-way poured in place, steel reinforced
concrete slab with a concrete post and beam supporting system. A grass
surface especially designed for the sport enthusiast would sit on top
of 4 inches of compacted topsoil with 2 inches of a roof grade drainage
mat.
Noel James
Michaels
noel.michaels@som.com