Urban Observer Takes Flight
(photo by Lee Bey)
Nothing today, folks. I'm taking off for a conference in Columbus Ohio. Check out my archives until I get back.
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November 30, 2007
November 29, 2007
More than Gothic
(photos by Lee Bey)
At the University of Chicago...two building that sits just fingertips away from the icy hand of the campus' Gothic Revival architecture. Above is the Ratner Atheletic Center; below is the U of C Law School library. Will put up more as time allows.
November 28, 2007
Photo Essay: The Chicagoan
(photos by Lee Bey)
November 27, 2007
Throw Ya Hands Up: When Hip-Hop and Architecture Converged
Earlier this week, I lamented over not finding an architecture-related video as good as Ted Kamp's brilliant Mies van der Rohe tribute that I posted a few months ago. Now comes Urban Observer reader Mike Waldinger who sent me a link to this above gem from the early 1980s PBS educational show, 3-2-1 Contact, which used rap music--and what I'm sure the producers thought was MTV style video--to teach kids about architecture.
Look closely and you can see at least two Chicago-related examples, such as the Pullman Factory and Administration Building at 111th and Cottage Grove and a real lost treasure: SOM's circa 1980 neon-like computer animation of Chicago and its skyline.
The young rappers on this clip wouldn't have made anyone back then forget about The Treacherous Three--and their 'street' pronunciation of "archi-teckcha" made me giggle--the idea that the newly evolved artform of rap was being used for educate city kids about architecture was kinda revolutionary. Now excuse me while I track down my old Kangol and my Adidases with the fat shoe laces...
The Fallen Snowflake
(photos by Lee Bey)
Historian Tim Samuelson years ago told me about the Snowflake Motel, a bit of early 1960s whimsy near St. Joseph, MI that was designed by Taliesin fellow and Frank Lloyd Wright son-in-law William Wesley Peters. I didnt actually see the place until 2005 when I snapped these hasty photos, noting its saw-tooth roofline, domed entry court and siteplan were reminscent of snowflakes. The motel was clearly down on its heels, but operational. I figured I'd come back and take some better pix. Looks like I'll have to make do with these. The Snowflake was demolished earlier this year.
Read more about the motel's history in this great piece by Sandy McLendon in Chicagoan Joe Kunkel's addictive online magazine Jetset Modern. This 2002 story in The Believer magazine ain't bad either. Wish I had better photos, is all.
November 26, 2007
Documentary on Mondernist Architect Paul R. Williams
It's been a while since we've reached into the video grab bag--uh, partially because I havent been able to find anything as entertaining as the Mies van der Rohe music video I found a while back. Today's offering is a decent documentary on the late Paul Revere Williams, a modernist architect who just happened to be African American. He didn't do any work in Chicago, but let's not hold that against him.
November 25, 2007
Past Perfect
(photos by Lee Bey)
Not architecture, but a few nicely-designed items from the recent past--collected by me and all in good working order.
The above photo is a Western Electric Model Model 500 black rotary phone from the 1950s. I picked it up last year at an estate sale in the Beverly neighborhood and it works fine. Around the Urban Observer's house, this 50 year old Model 500 has already outlasted two of those plastic twittery things that pass for phones these days.
(above) A Boston Ranger 55 pencil sharpener, salvaged from the old Chicago Sun-Times building by a former coworker.
(above) An Argoflex 75 film camera from the late 1950s. Still works. I shot a roll of film on it two years ago (uh need to get it developed)
(above)
The FM tuner from my 1965 KLH Model 19 stereo. The whole set-up features a pair of speakers, and a turntable/amplifier unit is a fine bit of mid-1960s Scandanvian Modern design...built in Massachusettes.
November 22, 2007
Ebony Jet Building
(photo by Lee Bey)
The Ebony/Jet Building, 820 S. Michigan, by architect John Moutoussamy. Read more about Moutoussamy's career--and that of other black trailblazers in architecture--here.
November 20, 2007
Urban Observer Hits the Road: Charleston, SC
(photos by Lee Bey)
I visited Charleston, SC last month to participate in workshops sponsored by the NEA and the Mayors' Institute on City Design. I managed to squeeze in a photostroll, but didnt have enough time to figure out what these buildings were. Anyway, for more on the great and storied coastal city, look here.
November 19, 2007
Urban Observer: Chicago People
(photo by Lee Bey)
Alright, enough then...the last few entries have been photos I've taken of women. And despite the encouraging e-mail I've gotten about this new tact, I think I should return the blog to its roots. But not before presenting one more person
November 15, 2007
Urban Observer: Chicago People
photo by Lee Bey
So yesterday, to make up for me not having anything architectural to post, I decided to run a photo of a female singer I'd photographed. And lo and behold, I noticed the number of visitors to my page increased a bit.
I'm intrigued by this. So I'll try it again today. This a Erlinda Garcia, a tradeshow model and singer I photographed last month.
I'll get back to architecture, I promise.
November 14, 2007
Urban Observer: Chicago People
(photo by Lee Bey)
I haven't been updating the blog as I should. The day job has kept me busy. I apologize.
So from my "people" file, here's a photograph I took of Chicago singer/songwriter Dawn Xiana Moon.
November 05, 2007
This is Schaumburg?
Indeed, this is Schaumburg, IL---or rather would have been, under an ambitious but ill-fated scheme from 1973. The monorail streaking in from the left is headed to the Schamburg Space Needle, which would have been the world's tallest building. I discussed the plan in more detail here, but couldnt help but revisit the plan today so I could show the monorail.
