The creation of the Eisenhower Expressway, between Chicago and the Western Suburbs, caused considerable displacement and the solution was the creation of city–state housing developments called “Courts.” Archer Courts (one of eight Court projects), was built in 1951 in Chicago’s Chinatown, consisting of 2 seven story, seventy four unit buildings. 
In the 43 unit townhouse development of Archer Courts Phase II, McKay Landscape Architects succeeded in creating a tranquil space for the primarily Asian residents, reinforcing the spatial principles of Feng Shui with the evocative and calming natural forms of rivers and water.  The result is a flowing path, a river through birch woods, with “docks” leading from pathway to front door.  Emphasizing this theme are River Birches, low evergreen groundcovers and boulders.