Lily Pads

Client Profile:

Client #9 is a non-fiction writer exploring the complex relationships between social media, nature, and human attention.

Site:

Located between Chicago’s Roscoe Village and Avondale, the site sits beneath West Belmont and East Campbell streets, surrounded by educational, arts, and park spaces.

Program:

The project includes a home, studio, and an artist residency, which will host a diverse group of thinkers—artists, philosophers, poets, and scientists—to explore humanity’s connection to nature. The residency features 12 studios, 12 guest suites, and a communal kitchen and dining area. Client #9 also requested a nature trail for guided walks with guests and visiting artists.

Building + Trail Design:

Nature Trail: The trail meanders through rolling hills, inspired by Maya Lin’s Wave Fields, creating spaces for contemplation and interaction that foster serenity between humans and nature.

Residency: Visitors must pass through the trail to reach their studios, encouraging a meditative journey. The guest suites are hidden from the street, with roof lines blending into the terrain. The studios, set in water, evoke a deep connection to nature. Their traditional gable fronts give way to sawtooth roof lines at the rear, symbolizing individuality. Large windows offer river views, and north-facing skylights bring in soft, diffused light. A deck surrounds the studios, and floating gardens lay below creating an extension to the existing trail.

Home + Studio: Sunken into the landscape with a hidden courtyard entrance, the home and studio offer privacy and a strong connection to nature. The L-shaped design allows the more public program areas to have river views, centered around a central courtyard that maximizes light.