Chicago River Edge Ideas Lab

shaping the next wave of investment along Chicago’s riverfront by connecting social, economic, & environmental values

The Chicago River Edge Ideas Lab was a 2017 exhibition at the Chicago Architectural Biennial that highlighted the vision of nine leading landscape architecture and architecture firms to display their innovative concepts for placemaking along the Chicago River edge. Ideas from the exhibit along with public input have informed a set of river edge design guidelines to be applied to future development projects along the Chicago River. Omni Workshop™ collaborated with Perkins and Will to create Third Nature: A strategy for the Chicago Riverwalk.

Third Nature seeks to redefine the future of the Chicago River by oscillating between First and Second Nature, terms first defined by William Cronon in his groundbreaking book, Nature’s Metropolis: Chicago and the Great West. First Nature encompasses the unaltered natural landscape. Second nature encapsulates the man-made landscapes for purposes of economic gain that repress the natural ecologies of First Nature. Third Nature improves the river experience by creating an interconnection between social, economic, and environmental values. There are seven essential elements incorporated into the design that help achieve Third Nature — project a future; cross the river; improve ecosystems; reveal history; connect paths; feature movement; and engage the river.

Recent visioning, investment, and development along the riverfront serve as inspiration for the River Edge Ideas Lab, and demonstrates how riverfronts can be innovative entertainment, recreation, and business hubs.

Location
Chicago, IL

Type
Chicago Architecture Biennial Exhibition