Rosewood Park Beach Improvements
Architect: Woodhouse Tinucci Architects
Owner: Park District of Highland Park
Location: Highland, Illinois
Category: Under 5,000 square feet (category three)
Rosewood Beach’s improvements are designed to supplement the elemental lakeside experience---a leisurely stroll along the beach with a boardwalk that meanders 1500-ft giving visitors an ever-changing journey along Lake Michigan.
Our solution to reactivating Rosewood Beach rooted basic amenities and an education pavilion in an elemental lakeside experience—a leisurely boardwalk stroll that meanders 1500-ft, connecting access points at each end and giving visitors an ever-changing journey along Lake Michigan. To minimize bulk, only functions needing privacy or separation are enclosed. All else is outdoors on the boardwalk itself, which wraps up and over to form simple, low-profile pavilions and site furnishings. Pavilions are long, low, thin, and topped with boardwalk planking so that views down the beach and from the park above are preserved. At the north end, the boardwalk expands to become the education pavilion. Moving south, the boardwalk morphs into benches and bridges a stream to reach the lifeguards’ station. Beyond, it folds up to form the snack bar and restroom pavilions. Materials are natural, simple, “beachy”: ipe, cedar, polished concrete, rough field stone.
"Really nice project that elongates the program as a backdrop for the beach experience." ~ Jury comment
