Chicago Architecture Foundation Archive

Celebrate Chicago’s Skyline: The Chicago Sinfonietta Presents City-Scapes

By
Ben Elkind
Published: May 29, 2013

Chicago’s skyline is one of the world’s most majestic – when approaching the city from afar skyscrapers rise over the horizon, gracefully twisting together to form a skyline that is simply unmistakable. Chicago’s many incredible features have made it an ever-evolving muse to many artists throughout history – the tradition continues through a partnership between the Chicago Sinfonietta and the Chicago Architecture Foundation on June 8th and 9th, when the Chicago Sinfonietta presents City-Scapes and ChiScape, music inspired by Chicago and other great American cities.

The centerpiece of the City-Scapes program is the World Premiere of ChiScape, a salute to Chicago’s varied and incredible architecture. Distinguished composer, Jennifer Higdon, curates the four-movement work, each section inspired by a different iconic Chicago building, each movement written by a different composer. The result of this co-authored work is a grand piece as sonically diverse and breathtaking as the skyline it pays tribute to.

The composers and their architectural muses include:

Composer: Armando Bayolo
Architectural Muse: the Modern Wing of the Art Institute Chicago, designed by Renzo Piano

The Modern Wing of the Art Institute Chicago, designed by Renzo Piano.


Composer: Vivian Fung, winner of the 2013 Juno® Award for “Classical Composition of the Year”
Architectural Muse: Aqua, designed by Jeanne Gang

Aqua, designed by Jeanne Gang.


Composer: Jonathan Holland
Architectural Muse: S. R. Crown Hall, designed by Ludwig Mies van de Rohe

S. R. Crown Hall, designed by Ludwig Mies van de Rohe.


Composer: Chris Rogerson
Architectural Muse: Jay Pritzker Pavilion of Millennium Park, designed by Frank Gehry

Jay Pritzker Pavilion of Millennium Park, designed by Frank Gehry.

Before each concert on the 8th and 9th, audiences are invited to join in on a moderated discussion with the composers. The pre-concert discussion at Wentz Concert Hall begins at 7 p.m. on stage and the discussion at Symphony Center begins at 1:45 p.m. in Grainger Hall.

The Chicago Sinfonietta presents City-Scapes in two performances  at Wentz Concert Hall of North Central College, 171 E. Chicago Avenue in Naperville, Saturday, June 8 at 8 p.m. and at Orchestra Hall of Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago, Sunday, June 9 at 3 p.m.   Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the Chicago Sinfonietta at 312-236-3681 Ext. 2.

Learn more about The Chicago Sinfonietta and see their performance schedule for the rest of year on their website.

 

Photos by Josh Koonce, Josh Picken, Charles Weber, and Yusaini Ulludin.

Ben Elkind is an Integrated Marketing Associate for Otherwise Incorporated.

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Neighborhood Guide: Chicago Architecture Foundation

By
Emmaline Niendorf
Published: February 29, 2012

The Chicago Architecture Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing public interest and education in architecture and design. CAF public programs work to challenge and inspire diverse audiences to explore the role of architecture in shaping their lives and creating communities that are both culturally vibrant and environmentally sustainable.

The Chicago Architecture Foundation presents cutting edge exhibitions including The Navy Pier Competition Exhibition and Chicago Model.

Chicago Architecture Foundation_Chicago Model_installation view

Courtesy of Chicago Architecture Foundation, Chicago Model.

The Navy Pier Competition Exhibition
The Navy Pier Competition Exhibition presents the projects of five finalists competing to redesign Navy Pier’s public spaces. As part of their Centennial Vision, Navy Pier is looking to renovate as part of a $155 million rehabilitation project. This exhibition showcases the finalists’ designs before the announcement of the winner.

Gateway Park, Crystal Gardens and Pier Park are a few of the areas that will be redesigned in an effort to draw more visitors. The project aims to make Navy Pier a year round, world-class destination, complete with both a wintertime life and nightlife.

The five teams vying for Navy Pier redesign include: Xavier Vendrell Studio, AECOM, Aedas Architects, James Corner Field Operations and !melk. Each team includes notable architects, urban designers, landscape architects and artists.

The Navy Pier Competition Exhibition is located at Atrium Gallery, 224 South Michigan Avenue.

Chicago Model
Chicago Architecture Foundation presents Chicago Model, a 320-square-foot model of downtown. This incredible work is the only accurate and up-to-date model of the city.

Rapid growth, innovative design and a diverse population transformed Chicago into an icon of today’s modern city. Chicago has become a model of the modern city everywhere; a way to understand cities and citizens and their relationship.

Chicago Model is located at Atrium Gallery, 224 South Michigan Avenue.

The Chicago Architecture Foundation is located at 224 South Michigan Avenue. For additional information, call 312.922.3432 or visit Chicago Architecture Foundation.

Emmaline Niendorf is an Integrated Marketing Associate with Otherwise Incorporated.

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Neighborhood Guide: The Graham Foundation

By
Emmaline Niendorf
Published: January 25, 2012

The Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts presents Ceci n’est pas une rêverie: The Architecture of Stanley Tigerman, opening January 26, 2012.

Ceci n’est pas une rêverie (This is not a dream) is a retrospective and reexamination of the architectural concepts of Stanley Tigerman. The installation spreads through all three floors of the Graham Foundation’s Madlener House. Tigerman’s texts, sketches, architectural drawings and models are organized in relation to nine themes, including Utopia, Allegory, Humor, Death, Division, (Dis)Order, Identity, Yaleiana and Drift. The exhibition is on view through May 19, 2012.

Chicago_Graham Foundation_Stanley Tigerman_Titantic

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.

Ceci n’est pas une rêverie was curated by Emmanuel Petit, Associate Professor in the Yale School of Architecture. The Chicago presentation is organized by Sarah Herda and Ellen Hartwell Alderman from the Graham Foundation.

Stanley Tigerman is a Chicago native who earned his BA and MA from Yale University. In 1986, he founded Tigerman McCurry Architects with his wife Margaret McCurry. His accomplishments extend to authoring seven books, representing the U.S. at the 1976 and 1980 Venice Biennales and exhibiting in major galleries and museums around the world.

Chicago_Graham Foundation_Stanley Tigerman_Architoon_Houston

Stanley Tigerman, Architoon - Houston, 1983.

Chicago architecture_Graham Foundation_Stanley Tigerman_Career Collage

Stanley Tigerman, Career Collage, 1978.

Tigerman has also shown a strong dedication to advancing Chicago architecture. Most recently, he co-curated the exhibition Design on the Edge: Chicago Architects Reimagine Neighborhoods, featuring transit projects commissioned by the city’s top young design talent. The exhibition is currently on view at the Chicago Architecture Foundation and was supported with a grant from the Graham Foundation.

Founded in 1956, the Graham Foundation makes project-based grants to individuals and organizations and produces public programs to foster the exchange of challenging ideas about architecture and its role in the arts, culture and society. The Graham Foundation is located in the Madlener House, a 9,000 square foot Prairie-style mansion located in the historic Gold Coast neighborhood of Chicago.

Chicago architecture_Graham Foundation_Stanley Tigerman_Instant City Model

Stanley Tigerman, Instant City Model, 1966. Photo Balthazar Korab.

Gallery Hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 11AM to 5PM; every third Thursday of the month, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Graham Foundation will offer public tours of Ceci n’est pas une rêverie every Saturday at 2 p.m.

The Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts is located in the Madlener House at 4 West Burton Place. For additional information, call 312.787.4071 or visit Graham Foundation.

Emmaline Niendorf is an Integrated Marketing Associate with Otherwise Incorporated.

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Lux Life: Chicago Architecture Foundation Presents Design on the Edge

By
Emmaline Niendorf
Published: December 20, 2011

Chicago Architecture Foundation presents Design on the Edge: Chicago Architects Reimagine Neighborhoods. This exhibition, funded by the Graham Foundation, asks leading creative thinkers to tackle the challenges facing the city’s communities. Noted architect Stanley Tigerman and veteran urban planner William Martin collaborated with the Chicago Architecture Foundation on this project to engage the following architects to create visionary plans that demonstrate how design can forge connections between and within communities, drive economic growth and intensify the culture of the city.

Chicago Architecture Foundation_Jeanne Gang_Gang Model Rendering_Youth Center

The Youth Center building is a center for activities and events while providing a second access point to the “L” Red Line Addison stop. Instead of competition, however, this space is meant for peace and cooperation, as it plays host to multicultural events such as markets and festivals. Inside, the Youth Center houses gathering halls, rooms for learning, and spaces for dialogue (such as a dedicated Skype room with giant monitors for connecting with remote friends and presenters).This rendering shows the Youth Center’s relationship with nearby Wrigley Field.

Chicago Architecture Foundation_Jeanne Gang_Building Sketch_L stop_Youth Center

The Youth Center building is a center for activities and events while providing a second access point to the “L” Red Line Addison stop. Instead of competition, however, this space is meant for peace and cooperation, as it plays host to multicultural events such as markets and festivals. Inside, the Youth Center houses gathering halls, rooms for learning, and spaces for dialogue (such as a dedicated Skype room with giant monitors for connecting with remote friends and presenters). This sketch by Jeanne Gang shows its relation to the “L” stop.

The exhibition presents proposals for seven sites, designed by Chicago architects: John Ronan, Jeanne Gang, Ross Wimer, Darryl Crosby, Doug Garofalo with Xavier Vendrell, Sarah Dunn, and Patricia Natke. Design on the Edge will focus on transit-oriented development, generating public interest in and discussion about creating vibrant, walkable, diverse neighborhoods.

The Chicago Architecture Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing public interest and education in architecture and design. CAF public programs work to challenge and inspire diverse audiences to explore the role of architecture in shaping their lives and creating communities that are both culturally vibrant and environmentally sustainable.

Chicago Architecture Foundation_Design on the Edge_Wimer Street_Midway Loop

The proposed Midway Loop is a hybrid airport/neighborhood building could be a great destination for all Chicagoans, even if they are not flying, and a place that recaptures the energy and excitement of flight. The exterior envelope of the station is a pneumatic shell that houses the program and works as an acoustical barrier without posing a hazard to aircraft. The building would incorporate the Orange Line “L” and contain restaurants, retails stores, pedestrian walkways and bicycle paths to invite the surrounding neighborhoods.

Chicago Architecture Foundation_Design on the Edge_Ross Wimer_Interior View_Midway Loop

The proposed Midway Loop is a hybrid airport/neighborhood building that serves as a destination for all Chicagoans, even if they are not flying. The exterior envelope of the station is a pneumatic shell that houses shops, restaurants and the Orange Line station, and works as an acoustical barrier without posing a hazard to aircraft.

Chicago Architecture Foundation_Design on the Edge_Ross Wimer_Midway Loop

The proposed Midway Loop is a hybrid airport/neighborhood building that serves as a destination for all Chicagoans, even if they are not flying. The exterior envelope of the station is a pneumatic shell that houses shops, restaurants and the Orange Line station, and works as an acoustical barrier without posing a hazard to aircraft.

The Chicago Architecture Foundation is located at 224 South Michigan Avenue. For additional information, call 312.922.3432 or visit Chicago Architecture Foundation.

Emmaline Niendorf is an Integrated Marketing Associate with Otherwise Incorporated.

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