July 11-12 This is one for we girls!!

Lindsay and I have spent a good part of the last three  days exploring some of Chicago’s rather superb architecture and I have two names for you - Marion Mahony Griffin and Jeanne Gang. Two women who have excelled in the world of architecture but perhaps with not the amount of notoriety or credit due to them (remembering that the profession is a male bastion!). 

Marion Mahony Griffin (1871-1961), an American (Chicagoan) architect and artist, was one of the first licensed female architects in the world. Her work in the United States developed and expanded the American Prairie School; her work in India and Australia reflected Prairie School ideals of indigenous landscape and materials. During her career, she produced some of the best architectural drawing in America and was instrumental in envisioning the design plans for the then new capital city of Australia, Canberra - do we recognise her!?  Hmmm. She did the drawings people think of when they think Frank Lloyd Wright (she was married to him). 

The other?Jeanne Gang (1964- ) is internationally renowned for the lofty Aqua Tower in Chicago with its flowing balcony structures. It is currently the tallest building in the world designed by a woman.  It will be soon surpassed by her new edifice the Vista Tower a structure of flowing unlikely curves. Simply and complexly beautiful! 

When completed, hopefully in 2020, Vista Tower will become Chicago’s third tallest building. This will make Chicago home to the two tallest structures designed by a woman. One might wonder if height were the defining feature in design - and notoriety. I think not, particularly if you see her wonderful designs but I guess in a world of tall male poppies and the size imperative, height probably attracts some visibility credits! 

I will leave you to look at Jeanne Gang’s buildings. Two of my favourites in a city of stunning buildings - more of those later. 

This is so beautiful you’d have to agree!! To me it is like a vertical river.






The Aqua Tower. I understand that no two ‘balconies’ are the same shape and/or size.