Get a glimpse of LATITUDE's "Metal Maple" Chicago Lakefront Kiosk entry, winner TBA!

The Chicago Architecture Biennial launched a Lakefront Kiosk competition last December in preparation for the city's first biennial exhibition this October. Architects around the globe were invited to send in their kiosk designs, which were inspired by the Windy City itself and its Lake Michigan waterfront.  The winning proposal — in addition to three more kiosks designed by architects in collaboration with students from local Chicago architecture schools — will be constructed for the Biennial, and it's expected to become a permanent lakefront landmark even after the exhibition gates have closed.

The competition jury is getting close to deciding the overall winner, so keep your eyes peeled for the winning announcement here on Bustler on August 3.

As a little teaser before the big announcement, take a gander at "Metal Maple", a competition proposal that Madrid and Beijing-based practice LATITUDE shared with us.

See what LATITUDE has to say about their entry below.

Project description:

"LATITUDE's pavilion proposal for the Chicago Architectural Biennial is a multifunctional space featured with a few key elements: a platform to elevate the pavilion one foot above street level; a cantilever roof to create an expressive space together with aluminum leaves; and a movable wall to adjust the size of the enclosed area.

The pavilion has been designed to be part of the Chicago Architectural Biennial, and afterwards, to be moved to the lakefront to be used as a kiosk during the summer."

"Wind and sunlight work in tandem with the pavilion's aluminum leaves to create a changing and evocative space under the cantilever roof. These aluminum leaves — inspired by the leaf of the sugar maple, a local tree — are moved by a slight breeze allowing sunlight to enter the pavilion. As the wind changes, so does the illumination of this space.

The movable elements that configure this pavilion allow  the enclosed space to change in size and function in order to accommodate a variety of activities."

"The flexible spaces and the possibility to be used both when it is open or closed will make it an important landmark for both tourists and Chicago residents. The whole project will be prefabricated and easy to transport to the different locations. The design, flexibility and simplicity of maintenance make this pavilion an ideal project for the city of Chicago."

Project details:

Year: 2015
Type: Competition
Status: Proposal
Client: Chicago Park District, City of Chicago
Program: 18.5 m2 for a multifunctional pavilion
Principal Architect: Manuel N. Zornoza
Team: Andrea Ramos Rodriguez, Jorge Cortes de Castro, Lucia Bravo Guinea