An unused parcel of land in Chicago’s city grid held potential not just for beautification, but for emotional and cultural impact. The site’s challenge was twofold: How do you activate an urban void in a way that engages a diverse audience? And how do you use design to create an experience that invites not just presence, but pause? The project aimed to reclaim public space as a platform for connection and imagination, using sound, storytelling, and sensory experience as the medium.
Inspired by the theme of listening, the design team created a space organized into rooms defined by reclaimed billboards, each painted in bold hues and framed with native plants. The structures were embedded with motion sensors that triggered curated sound clips, offering visitors layered reflections and auditory moments. Native vegetation added texture, scent, and seasonality, while shadow and sunlight played across the angled walls, enhancing the immersive feel. Playful yet contemplative, the design allowed for open-ended engagement—visitors could walk, sit, explore, or simply listen. It was a sustainable, artistic response to urban vacancy, rooted in both reuse and resonance.