Garfield Park is a neighborhood filled with elevated train tracks, ornate residential facades, vacant lots, broken windows, and storefront churches, all of which sit adjacent to 170 acres of parkland. To some people, this underserved section of the city speaks to decades of civic and economic disinvestment. A more opportunistic and less altruistic observer might see neglected real estate assets that could bring new wealth to the area, albeit at the expense of its current residents.
Cannon’s plan demonstrates an attempt to ground the exhibit in reality. The bulk of “Between States” functions more as a playground for design thinking than as a laboratory for solutions. Other proposals include Bridgeport-based Future Firm’s plan to create an Office of the Public Architect. Like the Office of the Public Defender (the firm’s real-world model), the OPA would provide free service to those in need—in this case, people who hit bureaucratic snags (such as work-permit issues) or are renting a home with unsafe elements (like wobbly back porches or missing railings). Future Firm’s project envisions the OPA operating out of functioning U.S. post offices, utilizing unused or unoccupied service windows.
Through 3/1/18: 9 AM-9 PM Chicago Architecture Foundation, Atrium Gallery 224 S. Michigan 312-922-3432architecture.org Free
