Construction of the First Park in Illinois Since 1946 Revitalizes the Area
Therapeutic Design Breaks the Institutional Monotony of the Illinois Medical District
For decades, large buildings dominated the Illinois Medical District . The architectural
character felt cold and disconnected from the city. This landscape is now changing. The new park is the first green space the district has added since 1946. The project relies on funding over $5 million. Its primary goal is to embed the concept of Therapeutic Design within the urban fabric.
Quiet Retreat Paths: Mapping Visitor Movement
The park occupies a strategic location. It is a triangular plot situated between major, busy roads. The key architectural challenge was creating a safe oasis amid this noise, enhancing the quality of the Public Realm.
Lead designer Hana Ishikawa directed the design. She relied on the principle of soft barriers. These barriers mix vegetation and calculated density. They function as an effective acoustic and visual shield, transforming the urban space. This refuge utilizes precise functional zoning. It draws inspiration from global health principles.
Visitors can begin their journey along a fitness track. This path loops around the site. It provides an opportunity for structured physical activity. Afterward, the paths naturally lead to quiet zones for rest and reflection, enriching the overall experience of the Public Realm.
Sensory Engagement: Designing for Healing Architecture
The Healing Garden is the spiritual core of the project. It directly applies Wellness Centered Design principles, enriching the overall Public Realm. The experience here engages the senses entirely.
Key Therapeutic Features:
- Sensory Focus: Designers carefully chose plants. They offer varying texture, scent, and seasonal color. These elements stimulate the senses and support contemplation.
- Acoustic Elements: Designers integrated Musical chimes into the mental health zone. They provide a calm background tone. This isolates the ear from external traffic noise.
- Social Recovery: The gathering area houses the permanent memorial for COVID 19 victims and workers. This integration reinforces the park’s role as a center for collective recovery, strengthening the Public Realm as a place of healing.
Materials and Technology: Building on Sustainability
The park’s design commits to integrating materials that support its therapeutic function.
Essential Materials and Compositions:
- Grass Lawn: It occupies 40% of the total area. The design ensures it withstands heavy use for social and physical activities.
- Pavers: The construction uses high-quality paving for 35% of the pathways. This ensures accessibility for all visitors.
- Plant Elements: Vegetation, including perennials and trees, occupies about 25% of the space. It is the core component for implementing Therapeutic Design and the soft barriers.
This development represents a significant shift in the IMD masterplan. It aims to connect the district better with adjacent neighborhoods. The start of construction heralds a new era. It grants the community essential space for breathing and reflection, away from the pressures of work and healthcare.
✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight
The launch of the first park in the Medical District in 80 years represents a vital development. It transcends simple green space addition. The design
confronts the harsh institutional character of the area. State funding provided $5.9 million for this. The proposal hinges on WHO principles. It integrates mental and physical well-being through landscape architecture
. It employs soft barriers to counteract dense traffic noise. We must rigorously assess the future of the project
, especially the COVID-19 memorial site. This ensures the therapeutic function is not diminished by logistical challenges. It confirms the IMD’s positive long term evolution from an institutional fortress to a connected Public Realm.
ArchUp: Urban & Therapeutic Analysis of the First Medical District Park in Illinois
This article examines the new therapeutic park in Chicago’s Medical District as a case study in therapeutic architecture and public space renewal. To enhance its archival value, we present the following key technical and design data:
The design is situated on a 0.5-hectare triangular lot at the intersection of Ogden, Damen, and Polk streets, with a public funding of $5.9 million. The park implements “Soft Barriers” principles through dense vegetation configurations that reduce noise pollution by 60%, utilizing 40% lawn areas, 35% high-quality paved pathways, and 25% therapeutic planting elements.
Therapeutic performance is characterized by the application of WHO principles across three distinct pathways: Physical Fitness (a 400-meter longitudinal path), Sensory Contemplation (plants with stimulating textures and scents), and Mental Health (incorporating musical chimes that reduce ambient noise to 45 decibels). The site includes a memorial for COVID-19 victims and frontline workers, featuring dandelion-shaped lighting installations.
Regarding urban integration, the project represents the first green space added to the Medical District since 1946, with direct pedestrian connections to four major hospitals within a 500-meter radius. The design successfully redefines the relationship between typically austere medical institutions and the urban fabric by achieving complete visual and acoustic isolation while maintaining visual permeability.
Related Link: Please refer to this article for a comparison of therapeutic design principles in urban landscapes:
Therapeutic Architecture: Designing Landscapes to Enhance Mental and Physical Health
https://archup.net/hospital-design-in-tonglu-blends-nature-with-modern-architecture/