In addition to the striking modern architecture of Mies and company, Chicago boasts some amazing modern landscape architecture, including this stunning garden by noted landscape modernist Dan Kiley. I visited on a quiet morning after a rain, and mostly had the place to myself. The place is mostly green, and under an overcast sky seemed even more so. A few of Kiley's design moves here that make the space so striking:
--the low, intertwining canopy of Hawthorn trees creates an intimate low "ceiling"
--the architecture of the Hawthorn branches (and thorns!) is strong and dramatic
--the palette is very limited-- green plants (no colorful flowers), gray granite pavers, with brown gravel adding some warmth. The only tree types are hawthorns and locusts. Lush green vines add texture to the tree trunks and walls.
-- the scale of the spaces is generous: the width of the pathways, paved edges, and planted edges makes them more elegant
--the edges of the space are broad and make this a place apart from the street
edge with the street, with wide planter of locusts
No comments:
Post a Comment