‘Mine The Gap’ Competition Winner, Chicago


The Chicago Architectural Club recently announced the winner of the Mine the Gap competition to come up with ideas for the use of a massive hole that was to be the foundation of the Chicago Spire skyscraper. The excavation was the start of a 150-story condominium tower designed by Santiago Calatrava which was abandoned during the recent real estate collapse. The premium waterfront site has become a scar on Chicago’s urban landscape.

The winning entry from a team led by Alex Lehnerer from the University of Illinois at Chicago proposed using the hole as a home base for a giant yellow hot air balloon called ‘The Second Sun’. Sometimes kept at ground level and other times sent skyward, the glowing balloon aims to bring some whimsy to a skyline dominated by steel and glass. The area around the balloon would be transformed into an urban beach and park providing a sunny spot in the city even on warm overcast days. Pushing the idea even further, the balloon is tethered to a suspended swimming pool. The concept is a bit bonkers in a good way and a fitting response to thinking someone might actually want to live in a condo 2000 feet off the ground.

Read the priginal blog post here on PSFK

chicago_second_sun_1-525x361
chicago_second_sun_2-525x389