In the grocery stores of Chicago the leafy green, Escarole, a less bitter member of the Endive family, still sounds foreign. The lemony, berry tones of Sorrel is only to be found at relatively expensive, grassroots farmer’s markets, and it’s sold in small quantities. On the other side of the Atlantic, Rene Redzepi, owner of […]
Archives for October 2013
Why a roundabout at Lincoln, Ashland and Belmont is good for everyone
We already knew roundabouts, used widely in Europe and other locales, were better for fuel efficiency and safety, but according to a recent mythbusters episode, they are more efficient for motorists, too. By about 20%. In our 2011 Lakeview Area Master Plan, we proposed a traffic bean with pedestrian islands to improve traffic flow and make […]
How architects are reshaping the public way: moss in AIA's Cities as a Lab
As the world skews towards urbanization, the shapers of that metropolitan fabric—from policy makers to architects—are increasingly influential in how they are lived in. Will cities encourage fraternization or isolation? Will they favor cars or bikes? Will they feel safe or threatening? How can they be places that foster diversity and creativity, while meeting the […]
Flats Chicago: Magnolia property in progress
Here are some progress photos of the new Flats Chicago property we are constructing on Magnolia Avenue.
We give an old Amish chest a makeover
Laura found this Amish chest at the Kane State County Fair in 2000, and loved the vintage hardware and cool aesthetic of a wooden trunk. However, the chest had seen better days: dilapidated and moisture-stained, it needed some refurbishment. We intrepidly (well, mostly Laura) sanded the chest on the back porch, revealing a lovely layer […]