Well, we decided to put ourselves to work and build a skyscraper. We wanted a sculpture that could stand on its own, presenting strength and modernization – symbols of the skyscraper in the real world. And so we began.
We had some help from kids and adults alike, and it was great to build. And now we don’t have to keep tripping over Legos hidden in our carpet for an unsuspecting foot. OUCH.

We are sorry we are mentioning Legos so soon after our recent story, (see below or previous) but let’s face it – Legos are really inspired. We are not very excited about the recent kits to build some of the skyscrapers – a Sears Tower kit and a John Hancock building kit. Not sure, but they seem to take all of the creative joy out of it. What do you think about these new kits? Let us know!

The Aqua Tower in Chicago is unusual for a couple of reasons. First, it has undulating balconies that make it appear to ripple. So it has a look that it is soft and flowing – which is not a common trait of steel and glass skyscrapers.
Another unusual trait is that it was designed by a female architect. Now it is not that there are so few female architects in the world, it is just not so often that a female architect gets to design and build a tall skyscraper.
If you look at most large-scale architectural projects in the world, very VERY few of them will be designed by women.

Link here to the web site of Jeanne Gang’s architecture firm to see more of the work that she accomplishes.

This “foam city” made from packaging material appears in a retrospective exhibit of work by John Weber who was a designer in Chicago. The exhibit was part of Exploration 2010, the Chicago Calligraphy Collective’s annual juried show at The Newberry Library – March 15 – May 28, 2010 in Chicago.

If you want to build something like this, see if you can round up some foam used in packaging. Usualy people throw it out as trash, so this is a great way to recycle and reuse and BE GREEN! (more…)

Don’t you think this is a great use for legos? Building a table top.
This is a great inspiration for using materials for a different purpose! These architects, in a firm called ABGC architects, located in Ireland got an interesting project. Not to build a building or a bridge or a cupola, but to build a table! And they chose LEGOs as their tool of choice! (more…)

One of our favorite people in the world of architecture writing and thinking is a man named Christopher Alexander. I did not know much about him but I did find this info about his being a professor and an architect of a whole BUNCH of buildings LINK
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