Cultivating Circles

Building Trust and Connection in a Community Food Forest

The CCA Academy of Chicago, a small charter high school, aims to transform a vacant lot into a community food forest. Rooted in the concept of interlocking circles, the project explores how to build trust through shared ownership while respecting boundaries. The overlapping forms represent diverse users—producers and visitors—and define spaces with varying levels of privacy. Environmental factors like topography, wind, sunlight, shadow, and permaculture guide the design to ensure optimal performance and inclusivity.

The circle is one of the most universal and inclusive shapes—edge-free, endlessly overlapping, and capable of containing countless colors and identities, much like a color wheel. Circular spaces evoke a sense of welcome and enclosure, making them especially suited for community environments. In this project, the two existing tree canopies, naturally circular in form, is where I took the inspiration from, and they are thoughtfully integrated into the design.

Getting to know the site:

Shadow and Wind study: January (Winter)

The design thoughtfully responds to site conditions, using two existing trees—centrally and westward positioned—as anchors for shade, spatial organization, and microclimate regulation. Sun patterns across seasons guided the placement of crops and gathering spaces, maximizing light for food production while providing seasonal comfort. Wind analysis, particularly from the west, informed the use of natural windbreaks and plantings to protect crops and create sheltered zones. The interlocking circular layout helps diffuse wind, enhance spatial flow, and foster a welcoming, climate-responsive environment.

A bridge connects the two main circular platforms, gracefully spanning above the pond and offering elevated views across the entire site. This feature not only enhances circulation and visual connection but also introduces a sense of playfulness and exploration. As visitors move across it, the bridge becomes both a functional pathway and an engaging spatial experience, encouraging interaction with the landscape.

Bridge Detail: Plan

At its core, this project is a community-driven transformation of a vacant lot into a vibrant food forest, rooted in the concept of interlocking circles to symbolize shared ownership, trust, and inclusivity. By blending ecological design with social intention, the space supports diverse users—students, neighbors, growers, and visitors—through a series of interconnected zones with varying levels of privacy and activity. Guided by site-specific conditions such as sunlight, wind, topography, and existing trees, the design creates a dynamic, welcoming environment where food, community, and nature coexist.