SIDEWALK IN THE SKY
Team:
Gamid Isaev
Thomas Kelly
Annia Jaworska
Type:
Housing
Year:
2025
Location:
Chicago, IL
This project examines the edge between private and shared space within a multi-unit townhouse complex in Chicago’s Little Italy. An elevated sidewalk is introduced at the second-floor level, creating a semi-public circulation zone detached from the ground plane. This walkway extends the interior circulation of each townhouse outward, blurring the boundary between domestic and collective space. The interior stair is pushed to the facade, acting as a spatial screen that mediates between private life and the shared exterior environment.
Mesh is used as the primary material to reinforce this porous boundary condition. By positioning the kitchen directly behind the stair and facing the elevated sidewalk, the project promotes passive surveillance while maintaining residential privacy.