No. 130 ¾, Third Floor, 315 S. Peoria St. is the address of an archetypal shelter/artwork. This installation questions the meaning attached to a physical address in our society in relation to acts of marking private territory in the public sphere. By blurring the threshold between the private and the public, this spatial intervention suggests a new way to engage in-between spaces. Installation was originally proposed at several specific locations on Lower Wacker Drive, temporarily providing the urban nomad with a shelter-like environment. 

During the exploration of Lower Wacker Drive, a natural interest arose in the relationship between homelessness and its visibility in society. Identifying the fundamental concepts implied by the precedents proved to be especially useful in developing a common language for discussions about the future use of the public sphere. To address the issue, ephemeral shelters were proposed that could be attached to several existing architectural structures on the site. The unit would have a parasitical form that folds out when in use and is concealed in the H-beam column when not in use. An address would be assigned for each installed unit so that the user could use the address during their residency. This demountable and relocatable shelter works as a tool to redefine the notion of “public” space while increasing the visibility of the homeless in society.