graham foundation – DesignApplause

2021 chicago architecture biennial. north lawndale installations.

Sep 27, 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 ]
[ 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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[ above/below ]
[ 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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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…

celebrating 20 years of the guggenheim bilbao museum

Nov 1, 2017

above> 3d drawing of the guggenheim museum

please join mas context and skidmore, owings & merrill (som) on wednesday, 1 november, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the guggenheim museum in bilbao. this event will be a unique opportunity to learn first hand about the making of one of the most important buildings of the end of the twentieth century. the event is part of mas context’s 2017 fall talks series and it will take place at the offices of som in chicago.

designed by frank o. gehry & associates, the guggenheim museum was a feat of design and construction. the use of digital modeling, including the now famous catia, and other innovations opened the door to a new generation of architecture that defined in the beginnings of the twenty-first century. the chicago office of skidmore, owings & merrill (som) served as the structural engineer for the building with bilbao-based idom as the local engineer. it was a unique collaboration that proved to be a major success.

to commemorate the 20th anniversary of its opening, john zils, associate partner emeritus at som, will discuss the work of som in the project while bill baker, structural and civil engineering partner at som, will discuss the guggenheim museum in relationship to the engineering work that has been developed in the office in the last two decades.

iker gil, editor in chief of mas context, will kick off the event by providing an overview of the transformation of the city of bilbao, from the challenges it was facing to the situation 20 years after the opening of the museum.

the transformation of bilbao was documented in the issue 30-31 of mas context. among the contributions, the issue features an interview with john zils. you can read the issue here

the exhibition som: engineering x [art + architecture], currently on display in chicago and presented with mana contemporary chicago in partnership with the chicago architecture biennial, reveals the concepts and forms that stem from som’s integrated practice of engineering, art, and architecture. details

mas context is supported by a grant by the graham foundation for advanced studies in the fine arts and by private donations. for information about how to support mas context details

chicago architecture biennial. 6 > 12 december 2015.

Dec 5, 2015

[ 6 > 12 december calendar ] The Chicago Architecture Biennial is free and open to the general public at the Chicago Cultural Center and sites across the city. The event is supported by the City of Chicago and the Graham Foundation, with additional support from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, and the Chicago Park District. All funding for the event is privately raised, with significant investments from BP and SC Johnson.

‘casa a’ by selgascano + helloeverything was placed in one of the two largest rooms of the centre, being one of the several full scale housing mock-ups at the show. photography: steve hall, copyright hedrich blessing. courtesy chicago architecture biennial.

can educational partners come together under one roof to create a new model for learning in chicago?

chicago architecture foundation (caf) posed this question through chidesign, an open international ideas competition. design proposals submitted to this competition are presented here with the jury-awarded winners highlighted below. these ideas draw attention to the importance of rethinking urban education and next generation cultural institutions. as cities search for solutions to complex issues around space and resource management, caf is committed to advancing this important community dialogue. see the [ winners ] installation thru 3 january 2016 | chicago architecture foundation | 224 south michigan avenue | #chidesigncaf

For a complete list of exhibitions, public programs, supporters, media partners and program partners, visit [ Chicago Architecture Biennial ] which launched 3 October 2015, and will run through 3 January 3 2016. @chicagobiennial @GrahamFound @ChiCulturCenter

chicago architecture biennial. 29 november > 5 december 2015.

Nov 28, 2015

[ 29 november > 5 december calendar ] The Chicago Architecture Biennial is free and open to the general public at the Chicago Cultural Center and sites across the city. The event is supported by the City of Chicago and the Graham Foundation, with additional support from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, and the Chicago Park District. All funding for the event is privately raised, with significant investments from BP and SC Johnson.

‘s house’ by vo trong nghia architects is another full scale installation that depicts a housing model for vietnam’s mekong river. photography: tom harris, copyright hedrich blessing. courtesy chicago architecture biennial

the main floor of the stony island arts bank will be used for exhibitions, like the current show by carlos bunga. courtesy chicago architecture biennial. image steve hall

chicago architecture biennial. 22 > 28 november 2015.

Nov 22, 2015

[ 22 > 28 november calendar ] The Chicago Architecture Biennial is free and open to the general public at the Chicago Cultural Center and sites across the city. The event is supported by the City of Chicago and the Graham Foundation, with additional support from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, and the Chicago Park District. All funding for the event is privately raised, with significant investments from BP and SC Johnson.

Color(ed) Theory’ by Amanda Williams is a project that sees the artist paint abandoned buildings in Chicago in bright colours. Photography: Steve Hall, copyright Hedrich Blessing. Courtesy Chicago Architecture Biennial.

2015 chicago architecture biennial events 8>14 november.

Nov 7, 2015

[ 8 > 14 november calendar ] The Chicago Architecture Biennial is free and open to the general public at the Chicago Cultural Center and sites across the city. The event is supported by the City of Chicago and the Graham Foundation, with additional support from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, and the Chicago Park District. All funding for the event is privately raised, with significant investments from BP and SC Johnson.

‘Sustainable Housing’ by Tatiana Bilbao SC was one of the few full scale houses reconstructed for the show. It is a prototype for affordable housing for the architect’s home country of Mexico. Photography: Tom Harris, copyright Hedrich Blessing. Courtesy Chicago Architecture Biennial

The Sculpture Objects Functional Art and Design Fair (SOFA) is the premier gallery-presented art fair dedicated to three-dimensional art and design.

Critically acclaimed and continuously running since 1994, what distinguishes SOFA from other top art events is its focus on three-dimensional artworks that cross the boundaries of fine art, decorative art and design. Presented by art galleries and dealers from around the world, SOFA CHICAGO is open to the public and all artwork is for sale.

The fair also includes an acclaimed lecture series and special exhibits exploring the artworks on view and surveying new trends in the art world. A VIP program includes exclusive events tailored to high-profile gallery clients and collector/museum groups.

2015 chicago architecture biennial events 18>24 october.

Oct 17, 2015

[ 18 > 24 october calendar ] The Chicago Architecture Biennial is free and open to the general public at the Chicago Cultural Center and sites across the city. The event is supported by the City of Chicago and the Graham Foundation, with additional support from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, and the Chicago Park District. All funding for the event is privately raised, with significant investments from BP and SC Johnson.

above> the chicago architecture biennial, which just launched last weekend, is the very first of its kind in north america; a startling fact, even more so when one thinks of the city’s (and country’s) invaluable architectural contribution to modern design. so when it did launch, it did so with a bang. pictured: ‘architecture is everywhere’ by sou fujimoto architects (foreground) plays with the idea that any form can become architecture; ‘house no. 11 (corridor house)’ by moss architects (background) is a comment on mega-mansions, corridors and the use of space in residential building. photography: steve hall, copyright hedrich blessing. courtesy chicago architecture biennial

One of the many exhibits in the Chicago Cultural Center is called “Bold: Alternative Scenarios for Chicago” and features 18 projects and ideas for the city of Chicago. Elsewhere in the Chicago Cultural Center is full-scale house that can be built for less than $4000, by the Vietnamese architecture office Vo Trong Nghia Architects; and the Swiss-based office Gramazio Kohler has collaborated with the MIT Self-Assembly Lab to make the first architectural construction built by robots using only rocks and thread.

2015 chicago architecture biennial events 12>18 october.

Oct 13, 2015

[ 12 > 18 october calendar ] The Chicago Architecture Biennial is free and open to the general public at the Chicago Cultural Center and sites across the city. The event is supported by the City of Chicago and the Graham Foundation, with additional support from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, and the Chicago Park District. All funding for the event is privately raised, with significant investments from BP and SC Johnson.

‘rock print’ by gramazio kohler research, eth zurich and self-assembly lab, mit was created without any adhesive, while on the wall are images of wai architecture think tank’s ‘narrative architecture: a manifesto” installation. photography: tom harris, copyright hedrich blessing. courtesy chicago architecture biennial

the all-consumed joseph grima at the 2015 chicago architecture biennial.

Oct 3, 2015

As I am photographing an installation Joseph Grima, the co-artistic director of this biennial is walking into this space with his phone held high, talking while walking and video taping. Without pausing he says hello and keeps on filming because as I later learn he has a scheduled interview coming up. I take a few photos of him recording and then I start recording him recording, reminiscent of the style Isaac Julien uses in his film Ten Thousand Waves. This goes on for 16-plus minutes. When done we both walk towards his interview.

[DesignApplause] This is the 3rd day of your event. Where are you right now?
[Joseph Grima] I’m totally immersed and consumed right now. Whether I’m at a scheduled event or in between like we are right now. What am I doing now in my free time? Video recording the entire event! I’m both buzzing and having a great time.

[DA ] This question can be off the record if you wish. The Chicago Cultural Center is such a wonderful space. Does the Beaux-Arts ornamented classical style compete with the installations? Would you have preferred to have a vacant factory building?
[JG] If this building was alongside a vacant factory building I would choose this building in a heartbeat. This space is more than a building. This is the city’s living room so to speak. The local citizens come in here all the time, this is there space, it has so much heart and soul. And this notion is more important than any special politics or anything. Having said that I think the spaces in this building are absolutely amazingly fantastic. The vast array of rooms that we’ve been able to occupy, from scale models to large installations, big galleries, small galleries, fantastic circulation. I think it’s fabulous.

[DA ] There are more young, emerging talents than big names. I’ve noticed that’s the case with a number of biennials. Is this phenomenon by design with curators of these events?
[JG] I think this is an exceptionally generous biennial in the sense that it looks much more towards the emerging generation. However, there are some names who are incredibly well-known. We tried not to think too much about who’s famous, who’s not famous. That wasn’t really a specific criteria. We were mostly interested in who’s producing new ideas, who has bold visions, who is taking risks and give them a space.

[DA ] You’ve done a number of biennials and events. How does Chicago compare?
[JG] The scale of the Chicago event is really big. Istanbul was big but Chicago is really big, the first time I’ve done something this large.

[DA ] I hope this show will keep going and thank you so much, and Sarah Herda (co-artistic director and executive director of the Graham Foundation), for putting together such an incredible body of effort and ideas.
[JG] Me too. I have every hope that it will because this city offers so much. Chicago is fantastic, an incredible opportunity for the city and the world.

The [ Chicago Architecture Biennial ] launched 3 October 2015, and will run through 3 January 3 2016. @chicagobiennial @grahamfound @ChiCulturCenter

talking to michelle boone on chicago’s first architecture biennial.

Oct 2, 2015

It’s hard to believe that 2015 is the launch date of the first Chicago Architecture Biennial. With so many major worldwide architecture & design events going on and with Chicago’s architectural heritage being one of the richest in the world, this event will serve as the epitome of ‘it’s never too late.’ We talked to the biennial’s resourceful, Michelle Boone, Commissioner of the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), after an exhilarant, worldwide audience filled, first press event. Many would say she’s 100% responsible for this inaugural happening.

[DesignApplause] What’s the genesis of the Chicago Architecture Biennal? How far back does it go?
[Michelle Boone] I was appointed by Mayor Emanuel in 2011, and I would say probably that second week of my tenure I got a call from the mayor wanting to work towards identifying a new platform, a major platform to convene the world and celebrate one of Chicago’s multiple assets. And very quickly through the process of working on the Chicago Cultural plan released in 2012, we landed on architecture. That while we had great organizations like the Chicago Architecture Foundation, and others that were doing their part to introduce visitors to Chicago institutions and Chicago Architecture history, the city itself had done very little to really promote architecture. We had great music festivals, engaging theatre programs and grant programs in support of individual artists, but as an agency very little for architecture, one of the city’s cultural strengths. And professions! I mean, just the sector of architecture as a creative industry is really important to the city. So we began to explore and look at biennials and exhibitions around the world.

[DA] And what year was this?
[MB] 2012. We went to Venice, the granddaddy of them all and met with those folks and they were very encouraging. And you know, they were shocked and surprised when we told them Chicago wasn’t doing a biennial. Every time we spoke to someone outside of the city, we heard that over and over. Through this process and along with our very encouraging and supportive local architecture community we’re here today kicking off our biennial. Looking back it was very easy in the beginning pulling the pieces together, but then we had to do the hard work of pulling everything together.

[DA] To summarize, how long has it taken to get to today?
[MB] We’ve been working on it for three years, in different iterations. The exploration, research, the ideas started back in 2012. I think Sarah (Herda, executive director of the Graham Foundation) coming on board, and really starting to massage the artistic vision for the biennial probably started in late 2013. So, yes, I think the work that she and Joseph (Grima, an architect and writer who co-curated the 2012 Istanbul design biennial) have been engaged in has been at least 18-24 months for sure.

[DA] Venice started in the 80s. The experts say you have 10 years, and with the biennial occurring every-other year, that’s 20 years. Are you going to hang in there?
[MB] Well, the Biennial will hang in there (laughing) I don’t know if it needs me to hang in there all that time. What’s very important, we started right from the beginning establishing the Chicago Architecture Biennial as an organization, an independent non-profit to ensure the sustainability of the event. It’s not dependent on me being here at the city of Chicago, or Mayor Emanuel being here, but that the organization will build the institutional intrastructure to be able to carry this on.

[DA] You’ve been able to see all the installations, can you point me to one or two?
[MB] There are a lot of cool things here and one of the coolest to me is the installation with spider webs, so the spider as architect (Tomas Saraceno, Berlin) is pretty interesting to see.

above> – click image for slide show; Tomas Saraceno, Berlin – When entering into Saraceno’s installation, a visitor’s perception is reoriented in a darkened environment dotted with glowing sculptures that are articulated in silvery spider silk. Formed of complex interwoven geometries suspended in air, each piece appears as a unique galaxy floating within an expansive, infinite landscape. The work’s titles reveal the technical basis for each sculptural element, like the genus and species of the spider collaborators and the amount of time needed to construct their webs – one four months. During the building period of a sculpture, each cube is turned onto its different sides, dislodging gravity and interweaving concepts of freedom of control within the work.

[DA] Anything else you wish to say?
[MB] It’s free! One unique thing about our biennial in comparison to some of the others around the world, is that all of the works are free and accessible.

[DA] How did the largest architecture and design festival ever to be held in North America press conference go?

The [ Chicago Architecture Biennial ] launches 3 October 2015, and will run through 3 January 3 2016. @chicagobiennial @grahamfound