Author: Administrator
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Convenient Access by Car
While early industrialists had grand visions of mechanized buildings and cities that walked, many of those ideas were whimsical at face value. Mind you, when applied as small parts, they were very useful – like the passenger elevator. One of those side concepts probably came to be applied to personal transportation – the automobile –…
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Burnham Plan of Chicago, and the Future of the American Metropolis
This is the last week for the Burnham Pavilions on display at Millennium Park in Chicago. They were meant as temporary exhibits and with the coming onslaught of a Chicago winter, it’s probably time. The Burnham Pavilions (see previous posts) were constructed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Chicago Plan of 1909, sometimes referred…
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Everyone wants to be called an Architect
A recent television news series spoke of development of a new electric automobile. It appeared odd that the person interviewed wore the title of “Product Development Architect”. Many in the software industry also wear titles denoting some sort of “architect”, though they’ve never been exposed to issues dealing with public well being, building envelope issues,…
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It’s Autumn
Glowing Trees Waking up on an overcast morning, the multi-hued tree leaves were irredescent. They glowed, and spilt a dazzling display of colour into a darkened interior space.
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If Buildings Could Walk…
A previous post described “if walls could talk”, but what about if buildings could walk? It’s not that far fetched an idea. Taking cues from the railroad industry, it wasn’t uncommon at the turn of the 20th century to find fixed structures – buildings – with large moving parts. Bridges were prime examples. It took…
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A Change in the Weather…
Last year at this time, the weather in Chicago seemed practically like summer. It gave rise to theories of global warming. But it was absolutely beautiful weather. This year, it has come to be very chilly, very suddenly. No global warming this year. Take this year’s Columbus Day Parade – which actually celebrates Canadian Thanksgiving,…
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The Single Level Largesse
In a quest to directly avoid any specifically Olympics related topics today… Recently, the Oak Park YMCA recently announced cancellation of its plans to move from its older, multi level facility in the middle of Oak Park, to a sprawling single level facility in a nearby town. Fundraising in this economic environment wasn’t going as…
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One Last Bit about the Morning Commute
Just to wrap up the past couple posts: When North American cities were first developing, we commuted on foot. It had its limitations, was endured during inclement weather, but gave us exercise. Various forms of mass transit came to be, which allowed for a larger commute area. The commute in to work became something social:…
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Architecture in Motion
A colleague described a project in Atlanta years ago. It was a building sited off of an expressway. Although the building was envisioned to have the typical sort of menu of architectural experiences – approach, enter, inhabit – it was noted that most people would experience this building differently. Most would experience this building while…
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Is your morning commute still fun to drive?
Time was, driving was a fun recreation. From a casual Sunday excursion, to a cross country trip, to something energetic like Nascar racing, the experience generated by being catapulted through ever changing scenery was exciting. Automotive design enhanced the experience. Swooping masses of sheet metal clad in bright colours, outlined in shiny chrome, housed behemoth…