Romero Cook Design Studio has been working with Hyde Park / Kenwood Community Council, as well as members of the community, to develop a alternative for what could happen in Harper Court. which is currently a under-utilized and ineffective space. Through a process of community input, including the 53rd Street Visioning Workshop, a design concept has been developed that is viable, innovative, and responsive to the needs of the greater community without sacrificing the character the context of surrounding area.

The incorporated principles of the plan are derived from a rigorous evaluation of successful places in the United States and abroad. In doing this, we extracted the qualities of these places and incorporated them into the plan. At the same time, we studied the qualities of the local architecture of Hyde Park and Chicago that are based on our climate, culture, and history. We are not trying to reinvent the wheel or create a folly as other approaches might try to do. We are using the principles of good urban design and building design to create a real place that will be timeless as well serve as a destination for people within the community to live, work, and shop.

We hope you enjoy what you see. Please feel free to comment below.

Existing Aerial:

Existing View, from south.

Existing View, from northwest

Proposed Site Plan:

Section through new plaza, looking south:

Section through new plaza, looking east:

Section through new plaza, looking north:

At some point in the near future, the sprawl of car-based development will have to stop as the world confronts rising gas prices and rising infrastructure costs. This is a study to redevelop two existing suburban shopping centers into a mixed use neighborhood, while still maintaining part of the existing shopping center.

All information based on four story buildings consisting of mixed use, townhouse, or condo functions with three interior block parking decks located within the new neighborhood. Within this new neighborhood, one has access to a wide variety of daily amenities, including a large scale grocery store, a cleaners, a hardware store, etc.

For more information and images, click here

Existing Aerial Photo

Existing Nolli Plan

Proposed Nolli Plan

Proposed Site Plan, Rendered