Day 3 - Architecture and the Elements
Wednesday morning in the neighborhoods
The day began with a visit to the Chicago Architecture Foundation for a workshop where students considered neighborhoods and their role in the growth of Chicago as well as their own neighborhoods and the positive and negative aspects about those neighborhoods. Then students worked in teams to design their own neighborhoods, identifying elements every neighborhood needs and planning the layout of their original neighborhoods, ultimately outlining them with blocks. The groups presented their designs to each other, pointing out interesting features from the George Washington statue in Georgetown to the aquarium in Michigan Shores. As they reflected on what they created, the students learned about basic elements of designing a neighborhood, including sustainability, readability, and livability.
Wednesday afternoon - of towering buildings and driving winds
Wednesday afternoon found us headed to one of Chicago's treasures - the Chicago River - for a tour of buildings that line its shores. The Chicago Architecture Foundation guide shared stories of changing attitudes towards architecture and the river throughout the city's history and pointed out significant locations such as the site where Jean Baptiste Point du Sable landed, the site where Fort Dearborn was built, and the location of the breach that started the deep tunnel flood of 1992. Students learned about the real name of "Goose Island," the history of reversing the flow of the Chicago River, the development of the river walks, and the uniqueness of Chicago's bridges. In addition, buildings from Beaux Arts, Art Deco, Modern, and Postmodern schools of architecture were highlighted - even through the cold winds and the hail that eventually came down. The overcast skies could not dampen the majesty of the buildings or the genius of their architects (though they may have sent some of us scurrying below deck for some hot chocolate and some respite from the weather).
The day began with a visit to the Chicago Architecture Foundation for a workshop where students considered neighborhoods and their role in the growth of Chicago as well as their own neighborhoods and the positive and negative aspects about those neighborhoods. Then students worked in teams to design their own neighborhoods, identifying elements every neighborhood needs and planning the layout of their original neighborhoods, ultimately outlining them with blocks. The groups presented their designs to each other, pointing out interesting features from the George Washington statue in Georgetown to the aquarium in Michigan Shores. As they reflected on what they created, the students learned about basic elements of designing a neighborhood, including sustainability, readability, and livability.
Wednesday afternoon - of towering buildings and driving winds
Wednesday afternoon found us headed to one of Chicago's treasures - the Chicago River - for a tour of buildings that line its shores. The Chicago Architecture Foundation guide shared stories of changing attitudes towards architecture and the river throughout the city's history and pointed out significant locations such as the site where Jean Baptiste Point du Sable landed, the site where Fort Dearborn was built, and the location of the breach that started the deep tunnel flood of 1992. Students learned about the real name of "Goose Island," the history of reversing the flow of the Chicago River, the development of the river walks, and the uniqueness of Chicago's bridges. In addition, buildings from Beaux Arts, Art Deco, Modern, and Postmodern schools of architecture were highlighted - even through the cold winds and the hail that eventually came down. The overcast skies could not dampen the majesty of the buildings or the genius of their architects (though they may have sent some of us scurrying below deck for some hot chocolate and some respite from the weather).
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