Design lessons from local cinema: The Logan Theatre
Opinion
Logan Square Spotlight: Bric-a-Brac Records is a uniquely Chicago community
We chat with Bric-a-Brac’s Nick Mayor about being a safe and supportive community space in Logan Square
Five Ways to Reduce Corporate Apparel Waste
Do away with branded hats, mugs and mini back-packs and gift your employees some of our eco-friendly alternatives instead.
Have a Green Holiday this Thanksgiving
Big holidays are the perfect time to practice the 3 R’s. With more food, you’ll see more results!
How Smart are the New Smart Lights?
Chicago is getting a round of smart lights to replace its existing streetlights. But how smart are these new Smart Lights?
Building Materials Matter: or What Happens when the House the Third Little Pig Built … Falls Down
The latest news out of CT – 20 year old houses crumbling due to bad foundations – underlines the importance of using good building materials!
Seeing Our Chicago River As Public Space
Our city’s connection to Lake Michigan helps us value and protect it; seeing the River as public space will keep it cleaner and healthier for Chicago’s future.
How Your Bathroom Works: A Plumbing Primer
Plumbing is a wonderful luxury we can sincerely appreciate every time we turn on a tap. Here’s how it works in three simple concepts.
“Employ an Architect” and other Advice from 1920’s Era Architects’ Small House Service Bureau
Today, a nod to the Architects’ Small House Service Bureau, a design booster group from 100 years ago offering a lot of advice we can all still use today!
Setbacks, Sideyards and the reason we can’t put a window there
In construction terms, a setback means more than discovering an unexpected concrete beam where you wanted to cut a doorway. Today we discuss how they vary and what that means for design and construction projects.
Design Diversity; many different types of space
Thumbing the office copy of Christopher Alexander’s Pattern Language recently, I was struck by how many of his ideas center on the idea of diversity in design. Alexander argues against homogeneity at every scale, from that of room furnishings to the design of cities. He’s so right. Our homes, offices, public places and urban landscapes all […]
Pioneering Modernist: Luis Barragan
This post salutes Luis Barragan, an influential Mexican Modernist who dared to create an emotional architecture.