A Vacant Lot Is Now A Popular Park
Chicago’s new public park, South Side Sanctuary, is set in a previously unused parcel of land in the historic Bronzeville neighborhood. Founded by The Nascent Group, an innovative developer, the vacant lot haw been transformed into a vibrant public park for the local community. Span collaborated with the founders to craft a visual identity that seeks to captures the essence and energy of the park.
The visual identity by Span reflects the form, expression, and movement in the park’s intentionally inclusive architecture and the diverse activities of its visitors — pedestrians, skateboarders, roller-skaters, bicyclists, and wheelchair users alike. The logotype showcases custom typography with letterforms that echo the geometry of the architecture and the site plan. Designed for versatility, the letterforms can be oriented vertically for the beacon sign or horizontally for traditional applications. They also unite to form a cross and an X, and serve as an homage to Chicago artist Apache Wakefield’s historic Bronzeville bench.
Span’s color palette is inspired by the park’s surroundings. Purple and green hues reflect the native-plant landscaping, while pink and teal come from nearby businesses. The Bronze tone is drawn from the four nearby statues that designate the area as Chicago’s Blues District center. Additionally, historic and site-specific photographs from the Chicago History Museum’s Street Scenes on East 47th Street collection were selected by Future Firm.
