South Shore Beach House

Nurture · Chicago, IL

South Shore Beach House is a 2,500 square foot seasonal beach facility on Chicago’s South Shore, designed by Nurture for the Chicago Park District.  Two pavilions of polished and glazed masonry are joined by a floating canopy, with concessions, restrooms as well as a lifeguard pavilion opening onto the beach.  The building sits between the South Shore Cultural Center, the golf course as well as the South Shore Nature Sanctuary, and the aerial views place it on the Lake Michigan shoreline below the high-rises of the neighborhood.  We made a few different trips out to the Beach House, from June 2021 through October 2023, as the architects wanted to see it not just in summer, but through Chicago’s seasons.  I think my favorite part of the shoot was creating the overhead aerial view that morphs through the seasons.  The project received an AIA Illinois Design Award as well as a Masonry Advisory Council Excellence in Masonry Award.

Aerial view of South Shore Beach House on the Lake Michigan shore at sunset, autumn trees and South Shore high-rises under a pink sky
Masonry pavilions and pale green floating canopy of South Shore Beach House at sunset behind tall dune grasses
Aerial view of South Shore Beach House on a summer morning, the curving beach and Lake Michigan shoreline with South Shore high-rises beyond
South Shore Beach House with concession windows open beside native dune plantings and the beach walk in summer
Visitors at the open concession window of South Shore Beach House, red wood-look panels and teal tile behind summer wildflowers
Patio of South Shore Beach House with visitors at tables beneath the green steel canopy and the open concession counter
South Shore Beach House pavilions and floating canopy behind yellow wildflowers and dune plantings, visitors on the patio
Corner of the South Shore Beach House concession pavilion with awnings raised toward Lake Michigan beyond pink wildflowers
South Shore Beach House in spring with shutters closed, masonry pavilions and green canopy above the sand
South Shore Beach House in winter, snow drifted across the patio in front of the masonry pavilions and canopy
Aerial view of South Shore Beach House in winter, ice along the Lake Michigan shore and South Shore high-rises in low sun