Gothic Garden: A Cathedral of
Trees
A cathedral of trees rescues a dreary,
urban back alley; converting into an uplifting 450 square foot Gothic
Children’s Garden into a place of delight, inspiration, creativity, and
sanctuary designed for children at play and prayer in the out-of-doors. Soaring
arches, reaching up to embrace the sky, articulate a purposeful space that
feels larger than its physical boundaries.
The alley is adorned with art-making,
the fire stair becomes a performance hall, and lofty vaults create canopies of
artful wind chimes. This endearing architecture with its tracery, arches,
vaults, peek-a-boo quatrefoil cutouts, and modular grid establishes its
functional importance as a landscape for reflection, seeing, storytelling,
gardening, and exploration, while building upon the historic church’s gothic
sensibilities and emotive beauty.
“Architecture Is Fun completed the
project on time, on budget, and lived up to their name – we had a lot of fun in
the process.”
~ Mary Ellen Christy, Headmistress.
Awards:
Mies van de Rohe Award, American
Institute of Architects Illinois, 2009.
Recognition of significant achievement in design innovation: award given for
bringing vibrancy and community vitality in to reclaim a formerly disused space
and repurposing it.
Distinguished Building Award,
American Institute of Architects Chicago, 2009.
Recognition of significant achievement in design, planning, and execution; the
Gothic Garden at St. Chrysostom’s conveys a strong message of the value and
potential impact that can be found in the transformation of small spaces.
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