LAFAYETTE PARK & THE

CANOPYSPHERE: NATURAL LANDSCAPE

AS URBAN DESIGN FRAMEWORK FOR
PUBLIC SPACES IN LARGE-SCALE
PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS
Abstract Author

Alejandro Saldaña Perales

North American cities are in constant growth and expansion. Cities Illinois Institute of Technology

like Chicago, home of the fastest growing neighborhoods in America, Keywords

face the challenges introduced by demographic expansion. Chicago Lafayette Park, private development,
public space, tree canopy, parks
is dealing with a social crisis, the result of decades of poor public
policies and their relentless implementation. All this at a time of
climate crisis at a global scale. The expansion of Chicago’s urban
landscape takes place in its abandoned industrial yards. These sites
are large enough to attract private capital towards developing them
into large-scale communities. Currently, these large-scale private
developments are designed, and later assessed, by city authorities
focusing on the building stock and sidelining their public spaces.
Since there is no availability of tools to design nor assess these
developments, their public spaces are but a byproduct and not the
center of these private developments. The design of new large-scale
private developments ought to adopt design and assessment tools
commonly employed in parks. Should such design and assessment
tools exist, which frameworks would its performance rely upon? The
Canopysphere is a proposed architectural, landscape, and urban
design framework concentrating strategies that harness the quali-
tative virtues of the tree canopy. For The Canopysphere framework,
my research conducts a thorough case study analysis of Lafayette
Park in Detroit. This 1956 large-scale private development is the
brainchild of a collaborative effort between Ludwig Mies van der
Rohe, an architect, Ludwig Hilberseimer, an urbanist, and Alfred
Caldwell, a landscape architect. Through thorough and exhaustive
digital photographic and video documentation of Lafayette Park, my
research aims to catalog the different strategies which define The
Canopysphere. These efforts are undertaken as an essential piece in
crafting and assembling The Canopysphere as a design and assess-
ment framework at the service of architects, landscape architects,
urbanists, and policy makers.

Prometheus 06 Regenerative Cities: Infrastructure, Landscape, Buildings, and Technologies

Introduction all, the intertwined crises of urban America and the political
movement that has grown up around them and in their wake
The present-day city of Chicago is the location of a unique
create a powerful resetting moment when it is possible to
cocktail of urban challenges. To architects, landscape
remake our cities, suburbs and entire metropolitan areas
architects, urbanists, as well as city authorities, the city’s
as more just, inclusive and resilient places” (Florida, 2020).
current expansion represents a grueling task. In a post-pan-
The author’s remarks, although meant as a warning, are also
demic scenario, Chicago faces a crisis on two parallel fronts:
soaked in optimism. It is then understood that this is a crisis
On one hand, the ongoing expansion of its Central Area
we can overcome. The scale of this battleground is that of
has exponentially increased the number of communities
the urban. Therefore, the disciplines in charge of all efforts
displaced and affected by it. These are mostly challenged
should be those best suited to the urban scale.
Black and Brown communities which have been severely
transformed by decades of disinvestment. At the same time, In his 2020 book The Nation City: Why Mayors Are Now
the current global-scale climate emergency demands a high Running the World, Rahm Emanuel shares his point of view
degree of enlightenment over a number of environmental in regards to the relationships of local city government
variables towards sustainable urban growth. policy and community-driven action. Emanuel’s book
implies the reliance of city politics on pragmatism; differing
Located on the South Side of Chicago, Bronzeville Lakefront,
from the ideological narratives which stand at the core of
a $4 billion large-scale private development, faces the chal-
federal or stale levels. In doing so, the former Chicago mayor
lenges mentioned above. Championed by diverse parties
highlights the idiosyncratic values of urban scale politics, its
and stakeholders — ranging from local NGOs, real estate
scope, reach, and objectives (Emanuel, 2020). Indeed, cities
developers, and local politicians — Bronzeville Lakefront,
are in a much better position to tackle both the social and
amongst other like-minded developments, shows itself as
climate crises due in part to the short distances between the
a model for future urban expansion at the threshold of “a
local policy and their communities.
dual-crisis scenario” (Boone, 2021).
In most major cities all across the world, conscious
Enter the COVID-19 pandemic. If this enterprise wasn’t
responses to similar challenges are currently making head-
difficult enough, the advent of COVID came to empower
lines. The 15-Minute City, developed in Paris by Colombian-
these challenges even more. When writing about the ongo-
born urbanist Carlos Moreno, has achieved celebrity status
ing and future effects this pandemic has had over urban
since its inception last year (Crook, 2021). Over the past
landscapes across the United States, author and urban
couple of years, it has been quite evident that most serious
scholar Richard Florida issued the following remarks: “As
efforts in the collective quest to overcome social and climate
history demonstrates, the main effects will be to accelerate
disaster would come from cities. Their strategies are deeply
shifts already underway in how we live and work. Most of
rooted at the scale of the urban landscape.

Figure 1: Satellite view of Chicago. Central Area highlighted. Current and proposed large-scale planned developments outlined in red.
(Source: Author.)

Alejandro Saldaña Perales 63

Throughout its history, Chicago has been two tales of a city. catastrophic urban exodus. Miller’s work also centers on the
Competing narratives describing its urban landscape often endeavors to upgrade the Loop as Chicago’s response to the
clash when seen from demographic, economic, social, and incoming talent and creative-based economy. According
even architectural points of view. However, one must also to the author, large portions of the blighted areas around
understand the level of agency and control city authorities the Loop were the ideal site to accommodate new urban
have over what happens in the city. Vertical analytical development to serve those working in downtown Chicago
models, like the ones introduced by Prof. Neil Brenner from (Miller, 2003). Today, the Loop and its adjacent community
the University of Chicago, and more specifically the one areas encompassing what is known as “Downtown Chicago”
employed by Prof. Derek Hyra from the American University are the fastest growing in the United States.
in Washington, D.C., suggest other layers of factors to
Over the last 70 years, Bronzeville has suffered major
consider when understanding transformations at the urban
transformations. These took place to satisfy — and in
scale (Brenner, 2019; Hyra, 2008).
some cases induce — a similar demand of attractive urban
In building what Spirou and Judd coined as The City neighborhoods for talented young creative professionals
of Spectacle, former Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley adjacent to downtown Chicago. By virtue of its strategic
established the physical boundaries of two distinct urban location just south of downtown Chicago, good transit
landscapes (Spirou & Judd, 2016). Spirou and Judd’s work is options, immediately adjacent to Lake Michigan and the
an assessment of an economic model, backed by Chicago, lakeshore, its powerful cultural scenes, and reasonable land
involving large urban transformation exclusive to the Central values, Bronzeville introduces itself as an obvious choice for
Area. New divisions were physically reinforced with the local, regional, and national migrant populations.
preexisting urban landscape of the Central Area. Similarly,
Over the last few months, public spaces are being re-evalu-
these borders were carved in the minds of Chicagoans living
ated as key components of the urban landscape. Regarding
in the neighborhoods outside the Central Area.
their recent path to stardom, Chicago-based architect
Nowadays, large-scale private developments in Chicago Carol Ross Barney says: “I started out thinking that design
are spreading outside the Central Area. Most of them take will make a difference. As a kid, there were spaces that
advantage of the availability of abandoned industrial yards impressed me, that made my emotions change, and I was
and brownfields located in between the Central Area and really aware of that power. I wanted to do that. But I had two
Chicago’s traditional neighborhoods. These developments epiphanies. One was that public space has a much bigger
export an urban model in conflict with their immediate impact than other spaces. If you’re going to make everyday
vicinity (Figure 1). The neighborhood urban landscape found life better, why not do it in public? The second was that I’ve
adjacent to these developments, as well as their communi- always felt empowered working in the public realm, because
ties, displays signs of distress. I see myself as a part of a community and that makes me not
only the designer but the client” (Mortice, 2021).
Chicago has plenty of experience with large-scale urban
developments. Through the tenure of Richard J. Daley as In the book titled Landscape as Urbanism, Charles
mayor of Chicago, the city battled the challenges posed by Waldheim, professor of Landscape Architecture at the
the post-war urban flight and the de-industrialization of the Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD), proposes
North American urban landscape and economy. Chicago Landscape Architecture as the discipline to take command
scholar Ross Miller recognizes the efforts undertaken by of contemporary urban discussion and conversations.
the Daley administration and his predecessors in order to Waldheim argues that Landscape Architecture comes in
maintain a stable tax-paying base and stop a potentially to fill in a void left “as urban planning shifted from design

Figure 2: Public Space-centered Design Matrix. (Source: Author.)

Prometheus 06 Regenerative Cities: Infrastructure, Landscape, Buildings, and Technologies

to social science, and as urban design committed to neo as architecture, landscape architecture, and urban drawing.
traditional models of town planning” (Waldheim, 2016). In The strategies are then further classified into two parallel
this work, Waldheim argues in favor of the idiosyncratic disciplinary fields; the ecologic and the programmatic.
values of Landscape Architecture as tools towards urban
Following, this research conducts interviews with experts,
expansion and growth.
scholars, users, and stakeholders — recorded and tran-
Parks, thus public spaces and landscapes, are the organizing scribed. Finally, through thorough and exhaustive digital
urban unit of Chicago. The combination of nature and the way photographic and video documentation of Lafayette Park,
it has merged into Chicago’s idiosyncrasy renders uniqueness my research aims to catalog the different strategies which
to its case. Similarly, its citizens have been able to manage define The Canopysphere.
these resources and incorporate them into their lifestyles.
Documentation of Lafayette Park will be performed using
Methodology two parallel techniques. It begins with meticulous photo-
graphic documentation at eye level, as opposed to aerial or
My work puts forward a professional and objective strate-
satellite imagery, with high-definition equipment to illus-
gy-oriented design matrix, centered around public space as
trate and carefully describe each strategy in the proposed
a design framework to shape and assess new large-scale
Canopysphere framework. This activity is customized and
private developments in Chicago. This matrix is composed
is done with the purpose of defining and illustrating each
of seven frameworks grouped into three categories or
strategy the way a person experiences the public space.
scopes. Each framework, along with its theoretical compo-
Photographic documentation is primarily intended to
sition and architectural attributes, was determined through
perform as a policy document. In addition, it is meant to per-
extensive literature review. Similarly, literature review of
form as a document to assist in the architectural, landscape,
each strategy provided clues towards selection of case
and urban design of a large-scale development.
studies to assess them individually (Figures 2 and 3).
In parallel, video documentation performed at three dif-
For The Canopysphere framework, my research conducts
ferent times of the day — morning, afternoon, and evening
a thorough case study analysis of Lafayette Park in Detroit.
— help to further elaborate on each of the strategies pushed
This 1956 large-scale private development is the brainchild
forward by Lafayette Park. Moreover, video documentation
of a collaborative effort between Ludwig Mies van der Rohe,
emphasizes qualitative attributes which cannot be captured
an architect, Ludwig Hilberseimer, an urbanist, and Alfred
nor documented through photography alone. This technique
Caldwell, a landscape architect (Figure 4). This canonic
is performed in such a manner that triggers an individual’s
large-scale development has recently been re-evaluated
autonomous sensory meridian response — ASMR — audio
in the work of scholars such as Prof. Charles Waldhiem,
visual stimuli. Such sensory-based documentation is
from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design,
performed with highly specific video and audio recording
(Waldheim, 2016; Denny & Waldheim, 2020), Prof. Adalberto
equipment, tailored for such tasks, and further enhanced
Del Bo, from the Politecnico di Milano, and Kevin Harrington,
throughout the editing process. Furthermore, this technique
Professor Emeritus in Architectural history at IIT. Similarly,
aims to be of greater service to architects, landscape archi-
their respective students, my colleagues, are currently
tects, and urbanists. Yet, it has the potential to supplement
working hard to re-assess and re-evaluate Lafayette Park.
photographic material within local policy documents.
Lafayette Park was analyzed through extensive archival
research and literature review. Its assessment identified four
design strategies, ranging over a spectrum of disciplines such

Figure 3: The Canopysphere framework research methodology. (Source: Author.)

Alejandro Saldaña Perales 65

 Figure 4: Lafayette Park highlighted over a satellite view of Detroit. (Source: Author.)

These efforts are undertaken as an essential piece in crafting In Chicago, efforts to regenerate the natural landscape, its
and assembling the design matrix at the service of archi- ecological qualities and performance, have not only fostered
tects, landscape architects, urbanists, and policy makers. the comeback of a site’s ecological functions but also
nurtured the social properties of formerly underperforming
The Canopysphere
public spaces and parks.
The Canopysphere is an organic layer or shell above ground
Finally, Lafayette Park offers testimony not only to Alfred
through the urban landscape. It is defined through the
Caldwell’s dominion of the local native ecology, but also its
architectural, landscape, and urban design framework
performance through the decades to come since its incep-
concentrating strategies that harness the qualitative virtues
tion. Since the design of Lafayette Park’s landscape was still
of the tree canopy. The Canopysphere performs as an atmo-
limited by the scientific knowledge available to Caldwell in
spheric layer over the urban landscape, nudging the design
the late 1950s, Lafayette Park cannot be considered entirely
of large-scale private developments towards impacting the
as a “laissez faire” development. However, if one factors in
performance of the urban landscape.
such limitations one can understand the radical approach
The Canopysphere’s first strategy is Native Rewilding. Caldwell’s shaping of the landscape by igniting precise
Emphasizing an ecological approach, Native Rewinding ecological functions, Lafayette Park becomes a pioneering
aims to reignite the site’s ecological functions as core strat- development and urban landscape.
egy via a minimum degree of intervention. It relies on the
The second ecological design strategy is the Thermosphere.
conscientious employment of native vegetation to assemble
It calls for conscientious design of the tree canopy towards
the urban landscape.
a diverse degree of thermal control of the urban landscape.
Native Rewilding is concerned and demands knowledge of The effects of canopy design over the urban landscape and
the local ecosystems, natural landscapes, and resources, as human behavior are deeply intertwined.
well as climate patterns which play an important role in the
In shaping The Canopysphere, this strategy targets the
function of the site. It highlights such attributes as a means
design of suggestive spaces, capable of suggestively having
to assign this strategy with a degree of agency and predict-
an intuitive effect on human behavior. Meticulous inspection
ability over the emerging landscape.
of the image above reveals how tree canopy is providing
respite to a tired walker and her pet from the scorching
temperatures in place where canopy is absent.

Prometheus 06 Regenerative Cities: Infrastructure, Landscape, Buildings, and Technologies

Through this strategy, The Canopysphere becomes a tool Lafayette Park in Detroit remains as a solid case study
allocating agency and control over the urban landscape’s towards designing large-scale private developments.
ground level. Through a human lens, it can shelter and set However, one must factor its various limitations:
free the activities and life taking place underneath.
— Its monochromatic program layout — entirely residential.
Now under a programmatic approach, Foliage Porosity — Its role in the destruction of an ethnic minority commu-
performs as a strategy that asks for understanding of foliage nity — Black Bottom.
and tree density, selectively shaping canopy, evoking behav- — It remains in essence an incomplete vision and project.
ioral responses to imply programmatic determination and — Its role as National Landmark may restrict its ecological,
shifts (i.e., public and private) through the urban landscape. plus social, performance, and resiliency.

Considering both tree density and foliage density, Foliage At the time of wiring, the research’s next steps include:
Porosity constructs a tangible manifesto, under constant
— Schedule and plan the visits to Lafayette Park.
transformation throughout the seasons, of the programs
— Documentation of Lafayette Park according to the estab-
and activities taking place at ground level. Similarly, its
lished protocol towards illustrating and defining each of
influence pours over the local wildlife, extending its pro-
the strategies in The Canopysphere framework.
grammatic effects towards an ecocentric performance of
— Determine framework overlaps during the assessment
the urban landscape.
and documentation process of Lafayette Park.
Lafayette Park reveals simple yet diverse porosities which
Estimated time of conclusion of this research project is the
assist in shaping the development’s programming, regard-
4th quarter of 2023.
less of its limitations as a private residential development.
The public and private programs are clearly defined and are
suggested through a spectrum determined by the site’s tree References
canopy. Despite the limited programmatic layout of Lafayette Boone, K. (2021, November 15). Revisiting Florida, R. (2020, July 2). The Forces That
Park, its canopy enables, through its visually striking design, the Commons. University of Toronto, Will Reshape American Cities. Bloomberg
the development of the daily life of a community and a city. John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, CityLab. [Link]
Landscape, and Design, livestreamed com/news/features/2020-07-02/
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performing as a threshold between landscape and buildings. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. University of Chicago Press.

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hand with other public or private amenities which service City Concept by Carlos Moreno Wins Obel Buying and Selling of a Great American
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Conclusion

This research finds that cities are the vehicles propelling the
most industrious strategies in the face of a global climate
crisis and an increasingly divided society. In a polarized
Chicago, the sites where these boundaries blur are where
new large-scale private developments must shape buffer
zones between two competing urban landscapes towards
collaborative relationships. It highlights the importance of
public spaces and their relationship to the overall perfor-
mance of the contemporary urban landscape as a unified
and living network. Furthermore, it finds that new urban
developments can and must perform as ecologically resilient
tools serving the communities they will attract and foster.

Alejandro Saldaña Perales 67