Making responsive technologies apparent & socially relevant within a contemporary architecture

The performance spaces proposed within this project, have been positioned to align themselves with the existing urban vista and former civic axis of Burnham's plan as it stretches from Congress, to the podium of Buckingham Fountain and then over a broad, ceremonial staircase, to an incomplete Chicago Harbor and breakwater. Several documents within Burnham's plan suggest the existence of a civic monument (or marker) located on the lake at the center of Chicago Harbor. It is the belief of the designer that the mass of an unrealized civic monument was used by Burnham to complete the city's civic axis and thus also provide a focus for people as they approach the lake. Frais completes the plan and fulfils the site.

All panels were produced by digital processes. The red panels are conceptual drawings that represent the spontaneous overlaying of new responsive behaviors onto the performance space. Each red panel was made by scanning handwork (drawn on top of printed computer renderings) into the computer and then reprinting the mixed work with an altered printer to produce documents that are non-repetitive, serendipitous, experimental, and original renderings. The three black prints contain images representing the operation of the building, its components and the relation of each skin to the civic axis of Burnham's plan, while the remaining panels explain my understanding of how the project relates to its existing site and Burnham's original vision of Chicago.

This work was completed in early 2003. It was awarded the Schiff Fellowship in 2003 and has been printed in several publications. Approximately 20 panels including original experimental prints and hand drawings are apart of the permanent collection of architecture of the Art Institute of Chicago. It was a finalist of the 2003 FEIDAD award in architecture, Singapore.