Artline Chicago

Artline Chicago was among the 25 speculative proposals produced for the Chicago Architecture Club’s collaborative effort to envision possible future uses of the Bloomingdale Line, an disused elevated freight line in Chicago. The extant train line stretches from Lawndale Ave. on the west to the Chicago River on the east. It passes through Humboldt Park, Logan Square, Bucktown and Wicker Park, crossing 37 streets along its length.

Concept Statement:

 

"Artline Chicago is a continuous park that serves as a medium for the creation and display of art. 37 new lightweight bridges allow for seamless traffic flow underneath and above. By removing existing heavy infrastructure the areas below the bridges are opened to air and light. Each bridge allows for direct access to the line and new space for neighborhood programming. Though the bridges occupy only 10% of the total area of the line, replacing them changes it 100%."

Project Data

The Big Issue:  

Art programs in public schools are under funded and the first to be cut in a financial crisis.

Project Description:  

A speculative proposal for re-appropriating the Bloomingdale Line as an open-air art park.

Concept:  

A linear, multi media park that uses the resources of the museums and cultural institutions downtown to bring art into the neighborhoods that parallel the Bloomingdale Line.

Year: 

2007

Location:  

Chicago, IL, USA

Client/Sponsor:  

Chicago Architecture Club, Details Magazine, Bloomingdale Trail Collaborative, The Trust for Public Lands

Site: 

A disused, elevated train line that stretches from Lawndale Ave. on the west to the Chicago River on the east. It passes through Humboldt Park, Logan Square, Bucktown and Wicker Park, crossing 37 streets along its length.

Environmental Strategies:  

Infrastructure re-purposing

Program:  

Linear park and installation site for various medias of art, music and live performances

Scale:  

2.75 miles in length

Budget:  

N/A

Team:  

Architecture: Karla Sierralta, Brian Strawn

News

Artline Chicago was featured in, and on the cover of:

 the Chicago Architectural Club’s "Journal #11: 5 Concepts: Envisioning the Bloomingdale"

Artline Chicago was exhibited in:

“Envisioning the Bloomingdale Line” at the Acme Artworks Gallery, Chicago, IL from May 18 until June 3, 2007, along with all of the twenty-five speculative works.