Forum Pavilion

Building upon the urban exploration of vacancy proposed in The Available City project by David Brown, nine Chicago-based teams present their own responses to the issue at stake. Employing drawings and models, each project investigates the architectural possibilities of vacancy, with a specific focus on the role of collective spaces and the relationships they can foster. Diverse in their location, scale, program, and aesthetic sensibility, these projects ultimately demonstrate that we can leverage vacancy to generate new architectural scenarios that have the potential to address current social and economic issues.

Forum Pavilion provides a framework for leisurely community gatherings. Drawing inspiration from disparate sources, such as the traditional Roman forum and the common area of a residential high-rise apartment building, Forum Pavilion is an accessible space for neighborhood pastime. The pavilion functions as a space somewhere between a living room and a public plaza or a backyard and a park. Its shared areas host semi-private activities such as block parties, barbeques, hangouts, or afternoon tea with a neighbor. The pavilion combines indoor and outdoor space, independent activities along with small vendors. The attractive form serves as an encouragement for public assembly within a typical Chicago neighborhood.