Chicago Parks District, Chicago IL.
Proposal
Sean Lally Design
Along a Mound Within a Park develops public outdoor space that can be tuned to the unique physiological needs of the human bodies occupying it. The addition of fluoride in public drinking water as a preventive measure for tooth decay might be one the most well-known and controversial examples of preventative medicine. A laundry list of examples exists, however, including fountains that reduce air temperature, drinking fountains that quench thirst, and lighting that offers the potential for exercise in the evenings, each merging outdoor public space and public health.
Along a Mound Within a Park is a project that hinges on the advancing availability of resources commonly found in office building interiors. These include light therapy devices that provide relief for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), noise cancellation devices used to minimize unwanted stimulation, as well as the use of radiant heating used here to warm the soil and vegetation. This public space does more than provide a location to gather, simultaneously seeking to improve public health.
A.) Concrete Form, B.) Internal Heating System C.) Embedded Health Technologies D.) Thermal Image of Prototype: surface temp. 110 F
