What the Windy City might have been

The outward face of the rich architectural legacy of Chicago is seen in its buildings. No one can dispute the prominent positions held by such icons as the Monadnock or inland Steel buildings, the Rookery, and the Hancock and Sears towers, to name just a few. Yet, what about the numerous architectural projects that never were realized--that for one reason or another never made it off the drawing board? In this field, too, Chicago has a rich history. These are projects that exist only on paper or as models, allowing a glimpse into what might have been and providing us a chance to consider some of the buildings that architects have dreamt of, planned for, and delineated--but never built.

Unbuilt projects, regardless of the reason for their destiny, often are more fascinating than realized ones. They are collections of untested thoughts, some possibly naive or ill-fated, but nonetheless provocative. Usually relegated to shadowy darkness, these projects typically are located down hallways and in basements, in drawers and dusty boxes of archives. They are forgotten until the door is opened, the lights turned on, and the bindings broken open.

An exhibition has been organized that explores this possible twist in the Windy City's history, encouraging visitors to ponder the "Chicago that might have been." Featuring approximately 90 drawings, plans, and models for architectural projects that never were constructed, "Unbuilt Chicago" presents a unique opportunity to experience this great Midwestern metropolis as it never has been seen before.

Provided are a cross-section of projects from the 1880s to the present, examining the road to realization by reviewing the relationship among architect, building, and city--in addition to presenting various architectural processes from idea to construction. With each design being subject to many conditions and constraints, the complexity of such schemes is emphasized.

The exhibition may remind us, on one hand, of the dynamic nature of the city and, on the other, of the long-term effects that each new building would have had on our environment. Such are the examples of the Civic Center proposed in Daniel H. Burnham and Edward H. Bennett's "Plan of Chicago" of 1909 and Eliel Saarinen's concept for an Alexander Hamilton memorial in Lincoln Park in 1932. Most noteworthy may be the ambitious plan for a Yacht Club on Lake Michigan during the 1930s. It was to be the largest in the country at the time.

"Unbuilt Chicago" enables viewers to see historical as well as contemporary projects and illustrates the many different types of documents and tools that architects employ, from freehand sketches to presentation models.

Also highlighted are some experimental projects that ware Intended to explore new ideas or spur debate. In some eases, on view are theoretical explorations in which an architect presents a concept through a drawing, such as the example of the "Expanding Skyscraper" by Reginald Malcolmson. In an attempt to understand the dynamic nature of cities and the changing needs of inhabitants, he proposed a high-rise building with a core that could support cantilevered additions constructed over time and as warranted. His work was not literally meant to be built; instead, it addresses, through an architectural illustration, the apparent conflict between the permanent nature of buildings and the ever-changing needs of society.

"Unbuilt Chicago" will be on view at the Art institute of Chicago through Jan. 16, 2005.

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