These collages represent three ideas of proximity in today’s context. The idea of proximity is constantly in flux with the changes around us. After this COVID-19 pandemic proximity in architecture can be seen through a whole new spectrum. 

The first collage expresses the idea of duality in the idea of proximity today. People are physically apart but digital connected. It represents the effect of pandemic on people’s lifestyle. The second collage in a abstract way talks about the new ways of life and how social distance is effects the idea of proximity. The last collage is reflection of the city and surrounding. It represents the idea of a culturally rich context in the proximity of the site and the overlapping or infusing these context in collage represents our intentions of incorporating the idea of surrounding proximity as an aspect of design.

The beginning of this project started out with three different versions of proximity. Proximity to the urban context; Proximity to each other; and proximity through screens and the response to the covid 19 pandemic. These were all incorporated into the strategy. The main focus became incorporating the building into one neighborhood. The basis of this came from the book Life Between Buildings by Jan Gehl. The floor plate is an 80 foot by 80 foot square. This plan allowed us the opportunity to execute our idea by seperating the floor into four equal parts. The strategy started out with the entrance of the building. The removing of a corner of the building starts at the ground level. This opens the building to the urban fabric of the neighborhood. The building is separated into groups of four floors. This is the largest distance a person should have to travel for their needs. Each one of these groups of floors has a portion cut out for an amenity. The cut outs rotate around the building to connect the spaces visually to the surrounding context of Chicago.

Pent house plan

Typical floor plan

Typical floor plan