Since the late 1800s, when Chicago began competing with New York for building height and urban prominence, it has become known as one of the world showcases for innovations in modern architecture. The illustrious architects Daniel Burnham, Louis H. Sullivan, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill have been key players in this history.
LOGICAL / ECOLOGICAL DESIGN
"Most buildings are terrible. They're unhealthy, and they're bad for the soul." Fred Stitt, director of the San Francisco Institute of Architecture, didn't mince words as he officiated over "Ecological Design: The Unstoppable Wave." The conference, held in Oakland, California in August 2003, aimed at improving architecture through a better understanding of its relationship to the natural environment.
WOOD DESIGN AWARDS 2003
As unsustainable logging practices have depleted forests worldwide, and industrialized structural systems have developed, heavy-timber structures have largely disappeared from the vocabulary of contemporary architecture. But this hasn't dampened the appeal of wood as a building material. Instead, it has changed the way we design with wood and focused architectural commentary on factors like economy of use and elegance in spare detailing.