Courtesy of Xavier Vendrell Studio

Led by Chicago-based Xavier Vendrell Studio, Team X seeks to respect, reveal and amplify the physical and experiential qualities of the authentic Navy Pier. Team X rejuvenates the Pier with a unifying system capable of evolving and changing over time, understanding that “the transformation of an existing place, done well, is responsive, organic and flexible”. A lush landscape contrasts the hardscape of Chicago, creating an urban park that functions like a plaza. Circular disks of varying circumferences puncture the landscape with various types of program and natural growth, accompanied by pocket parks, terraces and kiosks. “Horizon walk” platform attracts people to the Pier’s edge, as it the final destination that offers unobstructed views of Lake Michigan.

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Courtesy of Navy Pier

Aedas Architects, Davis Brody Bond and Martha Schwartz Partners proposal PierESCAPE goes beyond the Navy Pier Centennial Vision as it aims to strengthen the connections between water, land, nature, city, culture, civic space and infrastructure with a “series of dock-like extensions”. The proposal respects the history of the Pier while identifying unique opportunities that will them to create a 21st century waterfront experience that is both a historical and contemporary destination.

Continue reading for more information and video of the team’s presentation.

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Pier Park + Boardwalk - Courtesy of AECOM

A team led by AECOM and New York-based Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) is one of five shortlisted teams invited to participate in an international design competition to renovate and reactivate Chicago’s landmark Navy Pier. This is a once-in-a-century opportunity that will redefine the character and focus of Chicago’s waterfront. It is part of an ambitious effort to create a new Navy Pier for the 21st century, and in doing so, to redefine what the pier and the waterfront means to the city.

Unveiled to the public on January 31, 2012 at the Museum of Contemporary Art, the AECOM-BIG design vision aims to “re-colonize the people’s pier,” by maximizing opportunity through a holistic approach. The result is Pier+, a vibrant urban destination that creates a new amenity shared by all while making a positive and progressive statement about Chicago to the world.

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© Urban Search Realty

Frank Lloyd Wright‘s 16-room, 6,100 square foot house built in 1897 for Isidore Heller was just placed on the market with an asking price of $2.5 million. Sitting on a large piece of land in Hyde Park, one of Wright’s more highly regarded house, is an architectural marvel with its high ceilings and and large rooms, which contrasts with the more well-known houses Wright is known for. The house also includes seven bedrooms, 33 stained glass windows, four fireplaces and an operational elevator. More images after the break. read more »

Existing Image of the Navy Pier © Stephen Hanafin via flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/shanafin/

Starting tomorrow, the five design teams selected to redesign the outdoor spaces of Chicago’s Navy Pier will begin to reveal their schemes to the public. Lead by AECOM, Aedas Architects, James Corner Field Operations, !melk and the Xavier Vendrell Studio, each team will be given thirty minutes to present their ideas, followed by a ten minute question and answer session. The presentations will take place on January 31st and February 1st at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Continue reading for the presentation schedules and more information on the competition. read more »

© Stanley Tigerman, American, born 1930, The Titanic, 1978, Photomontage on paper, Approx. 28 x 35.7 cm, Gift of Stanley Tigerman, 1984.802, The Art Institute of Chicago. Photography © The Art Institute of Chicago

The Graham Foundation in Chicago, Illinois is hosting an exhibition of the works of architect Stanley Tigerman from January 26, 2012 – May 19, 2012. Tigerman, a Chicago native and principal of Tigerman McCurry, undertook more than 400 projects, resulting in 175 built works. As an active member of the local Chicago architectural community, he was a founding member of The Chicago Seven, director of the School of Architecture at the University of Illinois at Chicago (1985-1993), and co-founded the school ARCHEWORKS with Eva Maddox in 1994 – a progressive socially oriented design. More details after the break. read more »

Special thanks for Adam Goss from Spirit of Space for sharing this great clip of Harvard GSD “Waterline” studio led by Phil Enquist of SOM.  When ArchDaily visited Chicago, our team had the chance to interview Enquist and gain some insight to his urban design and planning strategies, especially, the Beijing Central Business District and his Vision for the Great Lakes.  This latest studio is a collaborative think tank of architecture, planning and landscape architecture students analyzing the Chicago River as a way to capitalize its potential to serve as a recreation, education, and transportation component of the city.  Currently, the river is neglected and its presence is often ignored; yet, the students of Harvard are attempting to “rethink what the River means to the City” by questioning the existing relationships between River and City, and the public’s persepective and awareness of the river.  Enquist’s multidisciplinary team is working to understand the issues of the river at large and by developing a larger, zoomed out, framework, smaller interventions can truly fuse to become a cohesive citywide system.   We enjoyed listening to the students and seeing their passion for the river and its potential for Chicago, and we hope you enjoy the video, as well.  Let us know what you think about the studio in the comments below.

Courtesy of JGMA

Architects: JGMA
Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Owner: United Neighborhood Organization (UNO)
Design Team: Juan Gabriel Moreno, Cosmin Vrajitoru, Jason Nuttelman, John Rausch, David Ruffing, Linda Chavez, Michael Cady
Design Builder/Structural: Ghafari
Electrical & Mechanical Consultant: Primera
Landscape Architect: Terry Guen Associates
Project Area: 63,300 sf
Photographs: Courtesy of JGMA

   
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Courtesy of Influx Studio

Every industrial energy system inscribes its technological order into the urban fabric. Therefore, what shall be the shape and the fingerprint of the next zero carbon economy in the big cities? While the world is looking for alternatives to fossil fuels, Algae is an unlimited source of energy, food, and most important, a remarkable natural CO2 absorber. So, which spatial implications shall have Algae’s new technologies, and which potential integrations could be imagined for Algae bioreactors in central urban areas? Influx Studio believes re-use is by far the most sustainable option: that’s why the key issue is how to anticipate Algae’s green future in the core of the major cities, transforming existing buildings, where most people live and where emissions of CO2 are the most important. More images and project description after the break. read more »

© Steve Hall/Hedrich Blessing

Architect: John Ronan Architects
Location: 111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Project Team: John Ronan AIA, Lead Designer; Marcin Szef, Tom Lee
Graphic Designer: Studio Blue
General contractor: Art Institute of Chicago
Project Area: 6600 sqf
Project Year: 2011
Photographs: Steve Hall/Hedrich Blessing

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Courtesy of STL Architects

The concept for the new UNO Charter School by STL Architects has been conceived as a response to the organization’s bold vision for the Latino community in Chicago. Rather than replicate a tired, traditional school archetype solution, the design embraces the challenge of modernity with heroic determination. The heart of the building is an abstract yet powerful multinational expression of the neighborhood cultural identity – an environment to fuel the aspirations of students and community. More images and architects’ description after the break. read more »

© Steve Hall/Hedrich Blessing

Architect: John Ronan Architects
Location: 7200 S. Ingleside Ave., Chicago, Illinois, USA
Project Team: John Ronan AIA, Lead Designer; Evan Menk, Project Architect; Brian Malady, Project Architect; Yasushi Koakutsu, Oscar Kang, Brad Kelley, Micah Land, Nageshwar Rao
Project Area: 75,000 sqf
Project Year: 2006
Photographs: Steve Hall/Hedrich Blessing, Chris Lake

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© Steve Hall/Hedrich Blessing

Architect: John Ronan Architects
Location: 61 West Superior Street, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Project Team: John Ronan AIA, Lead Designer; Tom Lee, Project Architect; Evan Menk, Senior Technical Coordinator; John Trocke, Marcin Szef, Wonwoo Park
Program Manager: U.S. Equities Realty
Project Area: 26,000 sqf
Project Year: 2011
Photographs: Steve Hall/Hedrich Blessing

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© 2011 Navy Pier, Inc.

Navy Pier officials listed the five design teams selected to compete in the final phase of the Navy Pier competition. Each international design team, consisting of architects, urban designers, landscape architects and many other design professionals, is required to submit design proposals for the Chicago Pierscape and undergo an oral interview with officials. The schematic designs will be exhibited to the public in early February and the winning proposal will be announced later that month.

The five teams selected are lead by AECOM, Aedas Architects, James Corner Field Operations, !melk and the Xavier Vendrell Studio – the only team lead by a Chicagoan. Continue reading after the break for the complete list of the teams. read more »

Recently completed by Spirit of Space, the film above displays the cadence of morning rush hour reflecting the rhythm of the Chicago River, but how often do we allow the river to reflect a wandering glance from us? This “glance” aims to bring to light the potential of Chicago’s socially under utilized, aqueous artery.

‘Waterline’, commissioned by Phil Enquist (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill) in junction with the eponymous studio at the Harvard GSD for Fall 2011 allows students to explore the realities of three sites along the South branch of the river and think of ways to make it more relevant to the public.

If you are in the Chicago area, Jeanne Gang, 2011 MacArthur Fellow and lead architect of Studio Gang Architect, will be joined by Henry Henderson, Midwest Program Director of The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), to discuss the new book, Reverse Effect: Renewing Chicago’s Waterways. The book explores the importance of the Chicago River and the possibilities for its 21st century transformation.

The program is moderated by WBEZ’s Steve Edwards and is presented in partnership with NRDC.

The event starts at 6PM (CST) at the Harold Washington Library Center in the Cindy Pritzker Auditorium.

Registration is not required. Seating is available on a first come, first served basis.

Via Chicago Public Library

© Krueck + Sexton Architects

The glorious feeling of winning an architectural competition may quickly diminish after the realization that the achievement was only the beginning of the battle.

Officials have confirmed that Krueck + Sexton’s winning competition entry for the new home of the Chicago Children’s Museum has been removed from the redevelopment plan of the Richard J. Daley Bicentennial Plaza on the northeast corner of Grant Park.

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© http://www.openhousechicago.org/

Ever wanted to get a behind the scenes look at some of the most interesting buildings in Chicago? If you are an architecture enthusiast, student, or just curious about what all the hype is about, this weekend is your opportunity to experience the best that Chicago has to offer. From October 15-16, 2011, the Chicago Architecture Foundation will be hosting openhousechicago 2011 – which is free and open to the public. The primary themes for OHC are sustainability and community, with an emphasis on how buildings can achieve energy efficiency, and how design brings people and places together in a holistic manner.

Click here for a complete mapping of all the buildings available to explore.

References: www.openhousechicago.org

© Chris Barrett

Architect: Brininstool, Kerwin, & Lynch
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Project Year: 2009-2010
Photographs: Christopher Barrett 

The 37signals project is a 10,000sf commercial build-out for a software company in Chicago, Illinois.  The build-out was designed by Brininstool, Kerwin, and Lynch of Chicago, Illinois and was completed with full occupancy in March 2010.  More images and architect’s description after the break. read more »

Photo by David Hilowitz - http://www.flickr.com/photos/dhilowitz/

USA Today has put together a list of city neighborhoods which are satiated with activity, areas which offer a “great slice of urban life.” These districts trend from the urban vicinity to its very core, each in itself exemplifying the revitalization of the American city. The list includes regions which have been influenced by deliberate urban revitalization projects, such as High Line Park in Chelsea; while other neighborhoods have experienced an influx of a younger populace which has contributed to its growth, such as Lawrenceville in Pittsburgh.

See the 10 Up and Coming Urban Neighborhoods after the break.

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