Chicago Architecture Biennial announces 60-strong line-up
Both emerging and established architects have been signed up for Chicago's first-ever Architecture Biennial, which is setting out to be the largest international survey of contemporary architecture in North America.
Hailing from more than 30 countries, from Colombia to China, Pakistan, South Africa and Japan, the participants announced this week include well-known studios and firms such as Bjarke Ingels Group of Copenhagen and Chicago's own Studio Gang.
Starting in October and running for three months, the event will be set against the backdrop of one of the most architecturally significant cities in the US -- home to notable projects by Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Sullivan and Mies van der Rohe, among many others.
With the theme of "The State of the Art of Architecture," the biennial intends to address social, environmental, aesthetic, technological and economic issues currently shaping the world.
In addition to the Biennial's main hub, the Chicago Cultural Center, work will be presented at various venues across the city, including Millennium Park, City Gallery in the Historic Water Tower, 72 E. Randolph, and the Stony Island Arts Bank, a new exhibition venue launched under the direction of artist Theaster Gates and whose public opening and inaugural exhibition will be part of the Biennial.
A program is also in place to add four new lakefront kiosks to the shoreline of Lake Michigan. Three commissioned kiosks plus one design chosen as part of an international competition will be displayed in Millennium Park during the Biennial before being installed in spring 2016.
The Chicago Architecture Biennial will run from October 3, 2015 through January 3, 2016.
