The Edge

Third-Year Undergraduate Design Studio

David Emmons, Fall 2018

The goal of "The Edge: Artist Village" is to bring a vibrant artists' community to Allerton Park. This inclusive, fully-accessible village hosts living quarters for up to eight residents, a large communal facility, as well as communal and individual studio spaces for all types of artists. The site was carefully selected to invigorate the southeast side of the beautiful Allerton meadow, aligning itself along the edge of the Sangamon Creek. The form celebrates the topography created by the floodplains of the Sangamon Creek, while the linear organization and cross-axial plan retain iconic Allerton motifs.

A unique feature of the park is its lack of cell phone service, which allows visitors to disconnect themselves from the outside world and enjoy everything that Allerton has to offer. Taking inspiration from this condition, the parking is available only through the visitor’s parking center near Allerton Mansion. Although the parking area is 1500 feet from the village, this distance is crucial to fully immerse yourself in the mystery of the park. The accessible path to the village leads you along the edge of the meadow, creating moments of mystery as small clearings between the trees showcase the meadow and Sangamon Creek.