fbpx

Rooftop Amenities at Optima Lakeview: The Sky Deck

Chicago boasts of the best skylines in the country, and there is no better place to revel in the city’s one-of-a-kind architecture than Optima Lakeview’s very own sky deck. And not only does the sky deck provide views of the city from the lakefront to Wrigley Field, but it also allows residents to enjoy the fresh air year-round with access to a range of unique, extensive amenities. 

Optima Lakeview’s unparalleled sky deck has a surprise around every corner. From the resort-style pool and spa that stays heated for year-round use to the fire pits featuring lounge seating, residents will be able to go for a swim or relax at any moment. Our design provides plenty of ways for residents to stay physically and mentally healthy and embodies our dedication to creating spaces where residents can be active, inspired and entertained. 

Because of the sky deck’s versatility and unique amenities, the space is more than just a hub for wellness and relaxation, it’s also a space for residents to connect with their larger community. The BBQs, outdoor kitchens and theater provide the perfect opportunity for families and friends to convene and enjoy a movie and dinner under the stars. The space also features a glass-enclosed party room where residents have access to an extensive lounge area for entertaining. And, with views spanning the whole city, and Wrigley Field only a half-mile away, the Sky Deck provides the perfect opportunity for Chicago Cubs fans to throw their own viewing party. 

The sky deck at Optima Lakeview
The sky deck at Optima Lakeview

Optima Lakeview’s sky deck exemplifies our dedication to inventive, distinctive amenity spaces that leave a lasting impact on our residents. However, the sky deck isn’t the only extraordinary amenity Optima Lakeview affords. Residents can find more than 40,000 square feet of amenity space, including an indoor basketball court, golf simulator, fitness center and more. Stay tuned for more Optima Lakeview spotlights, or learn more here.

Zen Gardens 101

Zen gardens are synonymous with peaceful moments, stress reduction and thoughtful design. At Optima Kierland, our exclusive Club One amenity space features a zen garden to encourage those tranquil moments for our residents. To better understand the space and its history, today, we’re taking a look at zen gardens 101.

Purpose and History

As the name suggests, zen gardens were first designed to inspire meditation at Zen Buddhist temples. While Japanese rock gardens (inspired by the Chinese rock gardens that predated them) have been around since at least the Heian period (794-1185), the first rock garden considered a zen garden was built in 1334 by Buddhist monk and zen master Musō Kokushi. The idea was that monks would view the gardens while sitting outside of them and focus on the elements to hone their meditative practice. 

The development of zen gardens also pulled inspiration from Japanese ink landscape paintings at that time. Both art forms focused on winnowing down their composition to include only the essential elements of nature, which was then to be surrounded by an abundance of white space (in a painting, the blank page, and in a garden, the sand or gravel).

Elements of Zen Gardens

Zen gardens are defined by their unique stylized landscaping. The main eight elements are composed in intentional, meaningful arrangements. These elements include rocks (ishi), water elements (mizu), plants (shokubutsu), lanterns (tenkeibutsu), the borrowing from existing landscapes (shakkei) and bridges (hashi).

Each element is a meaningful symbol in Japanese culture, and their arrangement in the garden represents and honors that. Typically the gardens are brought together by gravel or sand, which is raked to represent rippling water. Emphasis is also placed on the principles of naturalness (Shizen), simplicity (Kanso), and austerity (koko).

At Optima, we’re honored to borrow from this deep and meaningful tradition. The zen gardens at Optima Kierland seamlessly blend the ancient tradition with the Modernist discipline, utilizing water, landscaping and open space to bring meaningful moments of zen and tranquility to our residents. 

person name goes here

Maintenance Supervisor

Glencoe, IL





    Acceptable file types: *.pdf | *.txt | *.doc, max-size: 2Mb