archKIDecture is an independent architecture education project that encourages children to explore and participate in the built environment.

Something to think about: URBICIDE

Sometimes we make up a word. Like "Kapow" when Batman hits the Riddler in the stomach, or "mukkity muck" that material that we step into - you know - the "glooppy glop" that is at the edge of the curb after a sudden huge rainstorm.

Back in 1968, a very famous American architecture historian and architecture critic (yeah, there is a job doing that!) whose name is Ada Louise Huxtable wrote an article for the New York Times titled "Lessons in Urbicide" and it was about the demolition of older american buildings that were not considered valuable anymore to some people. Now the word URBICIDE is not a word that you will find in the dictionary. But we can all understand what she means when she uses it.

An herbicide is a chemical that kills or destroys plants - it is generally used on weeds so that they do not overtake the plants that we do want to grow. The problem with herbicides is that they often leave horrible chemicals on the good plants, plants that we eat and use, and that is not so good for us or for other animals - or the air or planet.

So if an herbicide is the killing off of plants, in the same way, URBICIDE is the killing off of buildings. And what a waste. There have been beautiful buildings in the past that people have torn down, in fact entire towns, without discrimination. This means, buildings have been taken down without careful thought and consideration about what they mean to a community, to the people who built them and live around them, to history and to the definition of what is American. Ada Louise Huxtable wrote a great article about it in 1968 for the New York Times and it is in one of her books with a funny title "Goodbye History, Hello Hamburger" and you can read it here. I hope I can meet her someday because I think she is so very right and so smart.

Random Acts of Architecture
It's Not the Sears tower anymore...

The tallest building in America is not called the Sears Tower anymore as of today...it is now the Willis Tower! Read More here...

WHAT ABOUT THAT COOL NEW GLASS box in the SKY 103 stories up??

But here is another story about the Sears Tower…because that is where we live…in Chicago!

At the top of many skyscrapers, there is a public area, called an observation deck. Well, on the top of the Sears Tower, all 103 stories of it, there is a new Glass Bottom viewing deck. YIKES!

What is it? A glass box that extends off the side of the tower, with a glass floor and walls so it looks like you are hanging out in thin air, without wings! Or a parachute!
Again, may we repeat…YIKES!

Here is a video story about it. And the story gets more interesting...look over here...

past random acts

WILD AND WEIRD STRUCTURES!

OUR vanKIDecture competition!

WINNERS ARE HERE!! Thank you to all the kids who participated in the first ever contest from archKIDecture!See the great images from our young designers here > >

WORD o' the Week

***** * * * ROWHOUSE * * * *********

past words o' the week

Build IT! archKIDecture exhibit NEWS

 

A good (a bit old but let's call them vintage!) review ot the BuildIt! exhibit here

(Thanks to TheEncyclopedia Brittanica for including archKIDecture as a link to their Brittanica IGuide.)

 

 

 

We visited Watseka Ilinois and made some cool treehouses out of cigar boxes. Take a look > >