An exhibition featuring proposals from some of Chicago’s biggest-name firms is gracing the Chicago Architecture Center as part of Phase 2 of its Come Home Initiative.
The initiative is a new competition that seeks to provide a case study of “missing middle” housing designs that will aid the delivery of 30-100 units to neighborhoods located in the city’s South and West Sides. The exhibition opened earlier this month and will showcase the 42 design proposals that were selected for the Come Home Chicago: Missing Middle Infill Housing Competition.
The exhibition closes on March 26th with the selection of proposals headed to Phase 3 of the competition, which will in the end produce a pattern book to be used by city planners. A participatory feedback portal is also included as part of the exhibition. Access to the portal can be found here.
Thanks to an RFQ launched in December 2022, local and national architecture firms were asked to submit design solutions for four housing types: Single-Family Homes, 2- and 3-flats, Rowhouses, and 6-flats set in Auburn Gresham, Bronzeville, East Garfield Park, Englewood, Humboldt Park, and Woodlawn, areas. The CAC says each of the designs is meant to attract a community development model that can attract residents “back home” as tied to the initiative's three core principles.
“Chicago is at the forefront of housing design for 21st-century living,” said Eleanor Esser Gorski, CEO of the Chicago Architecture Center.” Whether it’s the return to multigenerational housing or the rise of the gig economy and micro-mobility, the way people live has evolved—and housing must evolve with it. The CAC is proud to be part of an initiative that calls for fresh, innovative ideas and partners with the community to tell us what they would want to “come home to” in their neighborhood.”
Designs from firms such as NADAA, Nia Architects, Frida Escobedo Studio, Future Firm, Höweler + Yoon, Ross Barney Architects, JAHN, Dirk Denison Architects, Marlon Blackwell Architects, Tatiana Bilbao ESTUDIO, and many others will be displayed as they present their solutions for six different neighborhoods in the city of Chicago.
View the names of all 42 shortlisted firms below, as well as a collection of design proposals.
The Home of Shadows / Edition #3
Register by Wed, Jan 29, 2025
Submit by Mon, Mar 3, 2025
Ceramics of Italy Tile Competition
Register/Submit by Fri, Feb 14, 2025
Museum of Emotions / Edition #6
Register by Thu, Jan 23, 2025
Submit by Tue, Apr 29, 2025
Kinderspace: Architecture for Children's Development #2
Register by Thu, Jan 16, 2025
Submit by Mon, Jun 16, 2025
No Comments