architecture – DesignApplause

this glass is for the birds migratory birds that is.

Oct 30, 2022

above > saflex flysafe 3d

worldwide, billions of birds are killed as they collide with glass windows and building facades — so much so that many cities and countries now require bird-friendly glazing in new buildings.

in response to this global problem, eastman, in partnership with seen ag, has introduced a new polyvinyl butyral (pvb) interlayer for laminated glass: saflex flysafe 3d, a highly effective solution to avoid bird collisions without compromising on the view or beauty of glass facades.

unlike other bird-protection approaches that use decals, printing, or etching on the surface of the glass, saflex flysafe 3d features three-dimensional, reflective sequins between two layers of glass. the sequins catch the light at different angles, subtly twinkling to deter birds from the glass — something two-dimensional dots and stripes don’t do.

due to the 3d nature of the sequins, less coverage is required; the discreet sequin pattern covers less than 1% of the glass area. other solutions considered highly effective have at least five times the coverage and can be greater than 25%. and because the sequins are layered between glass, it is a long-lasting bird-protection solution.

“given the prevalence of glass in modern architecture, bird collisions are a global problem,” said heather singler, commercial director of eastman’s global architecture business. “too often, birds fail to see glass, or misjudge reflections — all leading to avoidable collisions. and we can indeed avoid these collisions. saflex flysafe 3d has proven to be highly effective as a bird collision deterrent.”

collision laboratories in hohenau-ringelsdorf, austria, have tested and rated the 3d-reflective technology used in saflex flysafe 3d. in both transmission and reflective testing, it is recognized in the industry and by ornithologists as one of the best — classified as highly effective, durable, and with better aesthetics. additionally, saflex flysafe 3d helps builders and building owners meet emerging regulations and certifications for bird protection, including securing leed sspc55 pilot credits for bird collision deterrence thanks to a threat factor of less than 10 from the american bird conservancy.

the minimal coverage of the bird-deterring sequins makes saflex flysafe 3d interlayers ideal for a variety of applications, including atriums, balustrades, cladding, curtain walls, exterior doors, facades, link bridges, podium glass, skylights and windows.

in addition to bird collision avoidance, saflex flysafe 3d interlayers can be combined with selective coatings and other saflex products to enhance glass further, giving it greater security, stability, acoustic control, solar control and protection from harmful uv rays.

“even if your municipality doesn’t require bird-friendly buildings, it’s the right thing to do,” singler said. “our experts can help you spec the right type of interlayer — or combination of interlayers —to meet your safety, structural and aesthetic goals while protecting countless birds without trade-offs in efficiency and surface coverage.”

to learn more about the benefits of saflex flysafe 3d interlayers and how they make glass construction safer for our feathered friends, visit saflex.com/flysafe.

founded in 1920, eastman is a global specialty materials company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. with the purpose of enhancing the quality of life in a material way, eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. the company’s innovation-driven growth model takes advantage of world-class technology platforms, deep customer engagement, and differentiated application development to grow its leading positions in attractive end markets such as transportation, building and construction, and consumables. as a globally inclusive and diverse company, eastman employs approximately 14,000 people around the world and serves customers in more than 100 countries. the company had 2021 revenues of approximately $10.5 billion and is headquartered in kingsport, tennessee, usa. note: mark may 14 in you calendar as it’s [ world migratory bird day ]

unrivaled residences found in repurposed chicago tribune tower.

Sep 15, 2022

above > tribune tower | crown terrace

a problem with most new construction in the residential high-rise segment is everything sort of looks the same, nothing really distinctive and unique. another irrational feature of new is the bedrooms are so small, quite out of scale with the rest of the unit and if you have a king-size bed your only hope is a big walk-in closet. chicago now offers an exception within the newly converted chicago tribune tower, a gothic masterpiece of a building. the tower was originally designed for commercial office space but has been repurposed into unrivaled residences and public spaces. below are a few examples.

architecture by scb / interior design by the gettys group. [ tribune tower competition of 1922 ]

above> tribune tower | illinois street lobby entrance

above> tribune tower | a lobby off the main reception area

above> tribune tower | courtyard overview

above> tribune tower | private parking area

above/below > tribune tower | crown terrace

above> tribune tower | deck

above/below> tribune tower | indoor pool

above> tribune tower | deck

above/below> tribune tower | deck

above> tribune tower | unit 2901

above> tribune tower | unit 3101 bedroom // below> unit 3101 living room

above> tribune tower | unit 402 living room

above/below> tribune tower | unit 2601 living room + private terrace

above/below> tribune tower | unit 2001 living room

above tribune tower | unit 2001 living room

mies van der rohe partner joe fujikawa mid-century home recently sells.

Aug 12, 2022

chicago architect joesph (joe) fujikawa‘s home recently sold. this news was startling because i was in this house a long time ago. joe was my second client in my own newly formed business in the late 70s, my first client being chicago mayor michael (j) daley. joe, asked me to create an identity and an award for the world trade council in chicago. there i met the president of the association, robert s ingersoll. mr. ingersoll was chairman and chief executive of the chicago-based borg-warner corporation as well as former ambassador to japan. this began an enormous run of commercial real estate projects. and i picked up mentors in joe and jerry (johnson).

i asked joe if he loved art. he said, “ron i love it ! i just don’t have a place to hang it.”

fujikawa was a californian who studied architecture at illinois institute of technology in the 1940s and 1950s under ludwig mies van der rohe and then worked in mies’ chicago firm, becoming a partner.

after mies’ death in 1969, fujikawa was a partner in the successor firm, fujikawa conterato lohan associates. in the 1980s, fujikawa founded a new firm, fujikawa johnson. fujikawa contributed to mies’ crown hall at illinois tech and other buildings, and his later firm designed the chicago mercantile exchange on wacker drive, the metcalfe federal building in the loop and one illinois center, among others.

along with his wife, grace, and two children, fujikawa lived in hyde park until building this house around 1971, his son, steve fujikawa, told crain’s before putting the house on the market in october. the architect died in 2004, and grace fujikawa died in 2016.

steve fujikawa told crain’s that when the family moved in, he was in high school and didn’t quite apprehend that the house was anything special compared to the colonials and other traditional-looking homes in the neighborhood. he grew convinced when his friends at new trier township high school, about six blocks south, “always told me i lived in the coolest house.”

the house is the latest in a series of midcentury suburban homes to sell quickly this year. among the others are houses in riverwoods, indian head park and chicago heights.

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381 fairview avenue, winnetka, il 60093
$765,000
modernist trophy in east winnetka. brilliant architectural design and engineering by noted mies van der rohe associate joseph fujikawa built as his own private residence. open floor plan that is terrific for entertaining or peaceful enjoyment. metal floating stairs are reminiscent of mies’ arts club stairs, one of chicago’s famed design icons. large continuous balcony off bedrooms that overlook tiered garden and private backyard. built-in cabinetry, terrazzo floors and more.

diébédo francis kéré receives the 2022 pritzker architecture prize.

Mar 15, 2022

above> startup lions campus, photo courtesy of francis kéré

diébédo francis kéré, architect, educator and social activist, has been selected as the 2022 laureate of the pritzker architecture prize, announced tom pritzker, chairman of the hyatt foundation, which sponsors the award that is regarded internationally as architecture’s highest honor.

“i am hoping to change the paradigm, push people to dream and undergo risk. it is not because you are rich that you should waste material. it is not because you are poor that you should not try to create quality,” says kéré. “everyone deserves quality, everyone deserves luxury, and everyone deserves comfort. we are interlinked and concerns in climate, democracy and scarcity are concerns for us all.”

francis kéré (b. diébédo francis kéré, 1965) was born in burkina faso – one of the world’s least educated and most impoverished nations, a land void of clean drinking water, electricity and infrastructure, let alone architecture.

“i grew up in a community where there was no kindergarten, but where community was your family. everyone took care of you and the entire village was your playground. my days were filled with securing food and water, but also simply being together, talking together, building houses together. i remember the room where my grandmother would sit and tell stories with a little light, while we would huddle close to each other and her voice inside the room enclosed us, summoning us to come closer and form a safe place. this was my first sense of architecture.”

diébédo francis kéré, photo courtesy of lars borges

xylem, photo courtesy of iwan baan

gando primary school, photo courtesy of erik-jan owerkerk

the success of gando primary school awarded him the aga khan award for architecture in 2004, and was the catalyst for establishing his practice, kéré architecture, in berlin, germany in 2005. the realization of additional primary, secondary, postsecondary and medical facilities soon followed throughout burkina faso, kenya, mozambique and uganda. kéré’s built works in africa have yielded exponential results, not only by providing academic education for children and medical treatment for the unwell, but by instilling occupational opportunities and abiding vocational skills for adults, therefore serving and stabilizing the future of entire communities.

serpentine pavilion, photo courtesy of iwan baan

sarbalé ke, photo courtesy of iwan baan

opera village, photo courtesy of francis kéré

national park of mali, photo courtesy of francis kéré

lycée schorge secondary school, photo courtesy of iwan baan

burkina faso national assembly, rendering courtesy of kéré architecture

benin national assembly, rendering courtesy of kéré architecture

his work has expanded beyond school buildings in african countries to include temporary and permanent structures in denmark, germany, italy, switzerland, the united kingdom, and the united states. two historic parliament buildings, the national assembly of burkina faso (ouagadougou, burkina faso) and benin national assembly (porto-novo, republic of benin), have been commissioned, with the latter currently under construction.

additional awards include the cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine’s global award for sustainable architecture (2009), bsi swiss architectural award (2010); the global holcim awards gold (2012, zurich, switzerland), schelling architecture award (2014); arnold w brunner memorial prize in architecture from the american academy of arts & letters (2017); and the thomas jefferson foundation medal in architecture (2021).

the architect has been a visiting professor at the harvard university graduate school of design (massachusetts, united states), yale school of architecture (connecticut, united states), and holds the inaugural chair of architectural design and participation professorship at the technische universität münchen (munich, germany) since 2017. he is an honorary fellow of royal architectural institute of canada (2018) and the american institute of architects (2012) and a chartered member of the royal institute of british architects (2009).

kéré is a dual citizen of burkina faso and germany and spends his time professionally and personally equally in both countries.

[ purpose ]
to honor a living architect or architects whose built work demonstrates a combination of those qualities of talent, vision, and commitment, which has produced consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built environment through the art of architecture.

the international prize, which is awarded each year to a living architect/s for significant achievement, was established by the pritzker family of chicago through their hyatt foundation in 1979. it is granted annually and is often referred to as “architecture’s nobel” and “the profession’s highest honor.”

the award consists of $100,000 (us) and a bronze medallion. the award is conferred on the laureate/s at a ceremony held at an architecturally significant site throughout the world.

brit architect richard rogers’ greatest legacy not a building but his activism.

Dec 19, 2021

above> norman foster, richard rogers, carl abbott

as richard rogers retires from the practice he founded more than 40 years ago, former colleague sarah gaventa considers his legacy.

richard rogers’ greatest achievements, to me, are not the buildings to which his name is attached – and whose design is often the work of others – but his contribution to the role and value of architecture in our society.

his highly effective activism, which is what it would be called now – lobbying and steering politicians and decision-makers, advocating for improving our cities and public spaces and the lives of citizens through quality design – seems far more important.

this activism applies to the practice too. he spotted and nurtured great talent; some who stayed to be his partners and others who went off to start their own successful practices – and whom he happily recommended for work.

above> millenium dome // below> 3 world trade

above> senedd cymru, welsh parliament // below> industrialized housing

above> taoyuan airport t3

[ rogers stirk harbour ] [ legacy source ] [ norman foster ]

studio gang debuts new gallery featuring blue tin production and a broader abolitionist movement.

Dec 13, 2021

a collaboration with blue tin production and studio gang creates two inaugural happenings: an exhibition — a different future in the making: building garment worker power & a broader abolitionist movement; and blue tin production’s corporate office — 63rd house. a third element includes the opening of studio gang’s new gallery space in wicker park where this exhibition debuts. that’s quite an announcement!

the opening of the gallery coincided with the opening of the 2021 chicago architecture biennial (cab), where studio gang was a partner. because of the pandemic which affected long-established global venues, such as the venice architecture biennale, whose dates were put off twice — first, from may to august 2020, then to may 2021, chicago’s events will offer content within a neighborhood-centric format throughout the city.

the 2021 chicago event, titled the available city includes 15 site-specific architectural installations: located on public and private lots located in chicago’s neighborhoods of north lawndale, bronzeville, woodlawn, englewood, pilsen, and the south loop. there are also two exhibition-based explorations located in an unused storefront space in bronzeville and at the graham foundation.

[ the exhibition ]

a different future in the making shows how these questions are being explored by blue tin production, the first apparel manufacturing worker co-operative in the u.s. run by immigrant, refugee, and working-class women of color. materializing blue tin’s radical model and vision using the tools and techniques of garment work, this exhibition also reveals how the co-operative is seeding greater change through their newest project: 63rd house, a community space and manufacturing studio in chicago lawn designed by studio gang.

what can bottom-up, systemic change look like in the garment industry—and beyond—when exploitation and violence are replaced by community and care? and what role might architecture and design play in this transformation?

on view
20 november 2021 > 11 february 2022
1520 west division street chicago
[ tickets/reservations ]

above> a concept presentation of the 63rd house headquarters / below> a trench coat made by blue tin, glimpsed through a hand-sewn curtain by diana aguilar and hale ekinci, 2021

[ studio gang ] photos steve hall (c) hall + merrick

2021 chicago architecture biennial. englewood installations.

Oct 27, 2021

above/below> englewood village plaza concept / courtesy of atelier bow-wow
[ englewood village plaza / atelier bow-wow / tokyo ]

the englewood village plaza at 58th street and halsted serves as the entry point to the englewood nature trail. as a two-mile-long green infrastructure reuse project, the trail builds on foundational values of anti-displacement, fostering career pathways, and community stewardship. the plaza will serve as a gathering space for the englewood community with a range of uses including a weekly community market, a learning garden, and a site for cultural discussions and film screenings—all rooted in black culinary and land traditions.

through a co-creation process with grow greater englewood, atelier bow-wow designed raised gardening beds, indoor growing houses, new office space, a forty-person communal table, and the englewood commons. both the community table and the commons serve multiple functions: the former is a place where residents can break bread with their neighbors and families, feeding both body and soul. the latter, to be constructed in 2022, will be a gathering deck for events, markets, and performances. together, these communal spaces, which will be open to all partners and community residents, reinforce the idea that community wealth is rooted in its health.

atelier bow-wow is a tokyo-based firm founded by yoshiharu tsukamoto and momoyo kaijima in 1992. the pair’s interests range from architectural design and urban research to the creation of public artworks, which are produced based on the concept of “behaviorology.” atelier bow-wow has designed and built houses and public buildings mainly in tokyo, but also in europe and the us. their urban research led to the experimental project micro-public-space that has been exhibited across the world. among their books are graphic anatomy (toto, 2007) and behaviorology (rizzoli, 2010).

neighborhood: englewood
venue: the englewood village plaza
address: 58th street and halsted, 60621
hours to visit: daily between 11am-4pm
project by: atelier bow-wow

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visit the [ chicago architecture biennial ] to explore more about the biennial, what is on view throughout the city, and upcoming programs and events. look for DesignApplause to spell out these events in weekly separate articles.

[ upcoming programming! ] #cab21 #chicagoarchitecturebiennial

photography by gloria araya
this is a developing story…

2021 chicago architecture biennial collateral projects.

Oct 6, 2021

the 2021 chicago architecture biennial announced more than 100 city-wide cultural partners that will present programming in coordination with this year’s chicago architecture biennial, the available city, which will take place from 17 september 18-december 2021 at locations across the city. the 2021 edition will present ideas and possibilities for vacant urban spaces, activated with and for local community groups in collaboration with designers

above > courtesy som

designed and fabricated by som and the university of michigan taubman college of architecture and urban planning, the pavilion is an open-air learning lab and gathering space for a school in chicago’s south shore. led by professors tsz yan ng and wes mcgee, the splam [spatial laminated timber] pavilion showcases the potential for prefabricated timber.designed and fabricated by som and the university of michigan taubman college of architecture and urban planning, the pavilion is an open-air learning lab and gathering space for a school in chicago’s south shore. the product of a multi-year creative collaboration between skidmore, owings & merrill (som) and university of michigan taubman college, led by professors tsz yan ng and wes mcgee, the splam [spatial laminated timber] pavilion showcases the potential for prefabricated timber. “automated manufacturing technologies enable us to precisely and efficiently prefabricate a kit of parts which can be delivered to the construction site on demand, leveraging skilled labor where it is most effective in the process,” ng and mcgee said in a statement.

neighborhood: south shore
address: epic academy / 8255 south houston avenue, 60617

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the douglass 18 miniature golf course redesigned with a theme of bird conservation opens in north lawndale, a project by the lincoln park zoo and community partners with the support of the chicago park district.

above > courtesy nathan loevy

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above> courtesy studio gang

the opening of the gallery coincided with the opening of the 2021 chicago architecture biennial (cab), where studio gang was a partner.

[ the exhibition ]

a different future in the making shows how these questions are being explored by blue tin production, the first apparel manufacturing worker co-operative in the us run by immigrant, refugee, and working-class women of color. materializing blue tin’s radical model and vision using the tools and techniques of garment work, this exhibition also reveals how the co-operative is seeding greater change through their newest project: 63rd house, a community space and manufacturing studio in chicago lawn designed by studio gang.

what can bottom-up, systemic change look like in the garment industry—and beyond—when exploitation and violence are replaced by community and care? and what role might architecture and design play in this transformation?

on view
20 november 2021 > 11 february 2022
studio gang gallery
neighborhood: wicker park
address: 1520 west division street chicago
[ details ]

[ 2021 chicago architecture biennial overview ]

2021 chicago architecture biennial. woodlawn installations.

Sep 29, 2021

an architecture biennial unveils avant-garde ideas, materials, technologies and practices and serves as a forum for architects to make connections, collaborate with others and engage the public in issues and concerns in the field. the biennial also recognizes outstanding work in the industry.

the graham foundation is pleased to present the available city, part of the fourth edition of the 2021 chicago architecture biennial (cab). this edition marks a new approach to the biennial model, bridging the traditional exhibition format to a deeper engagement with the community to expand access and impact. offering opportunities to discover installations, exhibitions, and programs that explore transformative possibilities for vacant spaces in communities worldwide. the available city is curated by designer, researcher, and educator david brown. as artistic director, brown activates his ongoing, decade-long research project to document and reimagine new futures for vacant lots in american cities, including the more than 10,000 city-owned vacant lots in chicago. with over 80 contributors from more than 18 countries, and more than 100 cultural partners, the available city includes 15 site-specific architectural installations: located on public and private lots located in chicago’s neighborhoods of north lawndale, bronzeville, woodlawn, englewood, pilsen, and the south loop. there are also two exhibition-based explorations located in an unused storefront space in bronzeville and at the graham foundation.

[ above/below ]
[ reflecting our (global) south side / matri-archi(tecture) / basel + cape town) ]

reflecting our (global) south side fosters a cultural-spatial dialogue, the design is temporal, dynamic, and reflective. the idea of availability is manifested as a pavilion of reflective floating circular disks perched above organic shaped public seating. the reflective surface invites visitors to playfully observe their surroundings, allowing for introspection and interaction. the installation encourages gathering through its circular forms, referencing the rich value of radial community planning, historically designed by communities in sub-saharan africa. ultimately, this circular navigation of space subverts the traditions of constricting communities in grids—grids similar to that of the city plan of chicago.

by drawing comparisons between matri-archi’s african references and chicago’s south side, the installation encourages visitors to explore links between everyday spatial practices that align local communities with those in sub-saharan africa through an emphasis on the role of design. qr codes appear on each pole, inviting visitors to scan into a virtual realm and reflect on the mirrored parallels between the familiar and unfamiliar surroundings.

through these material, digital, and design considerations, the installation encourages continuous conversation, reflection, and framing of moments that foreground the value of everyday spatial practices embedded in memory-making, dwelling, congregating, and moving—all of which allow for learning that is anchored in a generosity of spirit. this generosity of spirit represents an availability to engage with oneself, communities far and near, the site, and the city—all in all reflecting our (global) south side.

matri-archi(tecture) is an intersectional collective that empowers african women as a network dedicated to african-built development and spatial education. they action their ethos through their research unit and forthcoming spatial education program, focusing on transformation in partnership with spatial practitioners. matri-archi(tecture) is co-directed by khensani de klerk and solange mbanefo.

neighborhood: woodlawn
address: east 63rd street between university and woodlawn, chicago, il 60637
hours to visit: daily between 11am-4pm
project by: matri-archi(tecture)

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[ above/below ]
[ witness trees / hood design studio / oakland ]

trees that remain in place decades or even centuries after noteworthy events are referred to as witness trees. many were young when the events took place and have grown to be large, silent sentinels of history. in the early 1800s, surveyors in illinois planted “bearing trees” as landmarks to grid the ground. after centuries of development, many are still around today and are documented in the witness tree project. this project is a collaboration between the morton arboretum, the field museum, university of notre dame and the paleon project, and the u.s. geological survey.

the 2021 biennial has established new witness trees that record this year’s events—events that have shaped this epoch: a time of pandemic, racial reckoning, police brutality and reform, and climate crisis.

the new witness trees installation is inspired by the state’s orthogonal grid. tree grids are scaled to the site; at the corner of east 53rd and south prairie avenue, a grid is painted on the lawn at ten-foot intervals.

artist, designer, and educator walter j. hood founded hood design studio in oakland, california, in 1992. believing that everyone needs beauty in their lives, hood makes use of everyday objects for landscape design and public sculpture that generate new apertures through which to see the emergent beauty, strangeness, and idiosyncrasies of urban space. his firm’s nationally recognized projects include the de young museum gardens in san francisco’s golden gate park; the broad museum plaza, los angeles; and the arthur ross terrace and garden at the cooper hewitt, smithsonian design museum, new york. the studio has received numerous honors, including the american institute of architects (aia) award for collaborative achievement and the cooper hewitt national design award in landscape design. in addition to serving as creative director of his eponymous firm, hood is professor of landscape architecture, environmental planning, and urban design at the university of california, berkeley.

neighborhood: woodlawn
site address: 53rd street and south prairie. 60615
hours to visit: daily, between 11am-4pm.
project by: hood design studio

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above> courtesy of negin moayer

[ above/below ]
[ woodlawn canopies; stories and futures / projecthood / oakland ]

project h.o.o.d.’s outdoor space is the former location of a crime-ridden motel. the motel attracted the worst elements in the community and was a drain on the neighborhood’s morale and safety. ten years ago, new beginnings church’s senior pastor corey brooks did something. he camped out on the roof of the motel for 94 days to bring awareness to the neglect woodlawn was facing. it was during this time that he founded project h.o.o.d. and prayed for success. pastor brooks raised enough money for new beginnings church to purchase the land and demolish the motel. since then, project h.o.o.d. has hosted several community events at the outdoor space; basketball tournaments, an annual harvest fest, and many others.

in 2021 the vacant lot transformed into woodlawn canopies; stories and futures and ramped up construction in time for a 18 september gathering tied in with the 2021 chicago architecture biennial. plans include communal gatherings, performance, play, reflection, historic references, and adventure. the site features an interactive workspace, stage, and exhibition space that showcases the history of project h.o.o.d. uniting all elements is an approach to design that brings about unique moments in spatial freedom.

the creative team includes norman teague is a chicago-based designer and educator who focuses on projects and pedagogy that address the complexity of urbanism and the history of communities. specializing in custom furniture that delivers a personal touch and unique aesthetic detail, teague’s past projects have included consumer products, public sculpture, performances, and specially designed retail spaces.

negin moayer is a licensed architect, design director, and founder of bnmo design. she is a graduate of the university of wisconsin-milwaukee, school of architecture and urban planning, and has been living and working in chicago since 2006. moayer has worked at perkins+will, chicago, and hga, milwaukee. in 2015 she founded bnmo design. http://www.bnmodesign.com/

neighborhood: woodlawn
site address: 6615 south king drive, 60637
hours to visit: daily, 11am-4pm
projects by: project h.o.o.d. & norman teague studios & bnmo design

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[ upcoming programming! ] #cab21 #chicagoarchitecturebiennial

photography by gloria araya
this is a developing story…

2021 chicago architecture biennial. north lawndale installations.

Sep 27, 2021

[ above/below ]
[ traces of past futures / manuel herz architects / basel ]

the central park theater was one of the most important social and cultural hubs of chicago: the place where benny goodman played his first concerts in the 1920s, and where gospel and blues musicians invented new styles in the 1950s and 60s. one of the most historically significant movie palaces in the united states, the theater is one of the first of its kind and became a model for buildings of its type which followed. in 1971, it became home to the house of prayer church of god in christ under the leadership of pastor lincoln scott and his successor, pastor robert marshal.

since 2019, a committee—the central park restoration committee—of interdisciplinary partners has joined in collaboration with the church to plan for a sustainable restoration and redevelopment of the theater to serve the north lawndale community. currently, a planning process is underway to seek funds to address deferred maintenance and restoration priorities, while continuing ongoing community engagement.

members from various local organizations — house of prayer church of god in christ, jewish community relations council of chicago, north lawndale historical & cultural society, preservation chicago, the school of the art institute of chicago, and future firm are part of this committee, and were involved in both the design of the biennial project and programming into the future.

neighborhood: north lawndale
site address: 3535 west roosevelt road, 60608
hours to visit: saturday from 11 to 2 pm only.
project by: manuel herz architects

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[ above/below ]
[ soil lab project / soil lab / copenhagen + dublin ]

above > courtesy of caliph rasul

the soil lab project is located on a city-owned vacant lot. the site was identified by cab artistic director david brown for an open call hosted with the danish arts foundation (daf) in 2020. soil lab is built on the remaining foundation of a former building and sits amongst six other vacant lots. the site is located between two other biennial partner sites, the cca academy permapark and a site being developed by the young men’s employment network (ymen) and working bikes.

the danish arts foundation is denmark’s largest arts foundation, whose mission centers on bringing the arts to a wide audience all over denmark, to promote danish art internationally, and to pave the way for talented artists. the foundation supports creative thinking and innovative ideas by funding more than 6,000 artists and art projects every year.

above> courtesy soil lab

the 2021 major commission is the second time the daf has invited danish creatives, and creatives with close ties to the danish architecture and design field, to propose a site-specific project for chicago. during the 2019 chicago architecture biennial, cabbage patch—an installation of 10,000 cabbages developed by danish artist duo gamborg/magnussen—was sited at the garfield park conservatory.

neighborhood: north lawndale
site address: 1310 south pulaski road, 60623
hours to visit: daily between 11am – 4pm
projects by: soil lab

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[ above/below ]
[ perma park / the bittertang farm / chicago + bainbridge island ]

in 2003, cca academy began a wellness program to increase the awareness of the impact of unhealthy eating, the lack of physical activity, and obesity. for the past three years, cca has been developing a permaculture food forest, permapark, on six vacant lots at 1320 -1332 south pulaski road. permapark brings fruit and produce to the community, provides a safe green space, and brings people together – allowing us to nourish one another as we take care of the earth.

cca academy is a community-based high school founded in 1978. it is a youth connection charter school (yccs) located in chicago’s north lawndale community. cca academy provides students, ages 16-21, who have completed eighth grade with a second chance to earn a high school diploma through a rigorous educational program, extracurricular activities, and supportive services that prepare students with the academic, social, and life skills to enroll in higher education, vocational training, or seek gainful employment. cca academy’s mission is to create lifelong learners.

neighborhood: north lawndale
site address: 1320-1332 south pulaski road, 60632
hours to visit: the park is open 7 days a week dawn to dusk.
project by: the bittertang farm

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[ above/below ]
[ cover the grid and block party at bell park / studio barnes in collaboration with shawhin roudbari + mas context and outpost office / chicago + boulder + columbus + miami ]

bell park is owned and operated by the westside association for community action (waca). was the site of waca’s first workforce program, creating local employment for north lawndale residents. the asphalt covered park beckoned columbus-based outpost office to create a gps -guided super graphic basketball court titled cover the grid. the site also inspired a geometric metal jungle gym titled block party by multi-studio collaboration studio barnes (miami), in collaboration with shawhin roudbari (boulder) and mas context (chicago).

above> courtesy nathan keay

above image dennis fisher

the client team included: the westside association for community action (waca) is a community-based, social service agency founded in 1971, whose mission is to identify and alleviate problems that contribute to the disintegration of our communal fabric. their partners include: open architecture chicago and freedom house studios.

neighborhood: north lawndale, 60632
address: 1921 south drake avenue
hours to visit: daily between 11am-4pm
projects by: studio barnes, in collaboration with shawhin roudbari and mas context and outpost office

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[ ymen bike box / a partnership of community organizations / chicago ]

the yemen bike box is a community space and place where residents can borrow bikes (free of charge), fix bikes, and even purchase bikes to help mobilize the village toward healthy lifestyles and community transportation access. the north lawndale bike box is a partnership of many community organizations and managed by both the young men’s educational network and working bikes. one of the organizations is young men’s employment network (ymen), a dynamic youth leadership organization in the north lawndale community on chicago’s west side established in 1996 to address academic, social, and financial needs that cripple the futures of many young people in north lawndale, particularly young men ages 10-18. ymen’s comprehensive programs offer a range of educational support, long-term group mentoring, vocational/career classes, fine arts, entrepreneurship, and service learning to more than 300 students & their families annually.

neighborhood: north lawndale
site address: 1241 south pulaski road
hours to visit: daily, 12-5pm. bike box operations take place on mondays and thursdays from 12-5pm.
project by: sekou cooke studio

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[ upcoming programming! ] #cab21 #chicagoarchitecturebiennial

photography by gloria araya
this is a developing story…