SELECTED WORKS
SPOKE & HUB
Illinois Institute of Technology
Instructor: Thaddeus Zarse
Spring, 2015
— Vladimir Tatlin
“Form follows function,” a motto by Louis Sullivan, is a quote that many have used to justify functional forms. A question remains as to whether the metaphysical form came first, making the quote a carte blanche, or whether the function of the users was considered first.
The site was explored in Logan Square using a framework model and the QGIS system. The analysis showed that the Burnham Plan and boulevard system were not efficient in connecting communities; rather, they functioned primarily as open space. However, the Bloomingdale Trail, which opened in 2015, has greater potential to bring four neighborhoods together.
An empty industrial building along the 606 bike trail was repurposed into a path/function that serves as a connection between the trail and ground-level street life along Humboldt Boulevard. Here, form simply follows circulation and function. IDEAHAUS holds promise in fostering community unity and establishing a thriving facility that caters to cyclists’ needs.
Physical Model Scale: 1/4” = 1’ 0”