Archinect - Features

‘The Regime of Building Is Deeply Flawed’: A Q&A With Graham Foundation Grantee Alican Taylan

2021-09-01T12:36:00-04:00

With exhibitions ranging from an exploration of the structural qualities of Black hairstyling techniques to an examination of local carnival architecture in Trinidad, this year's crop of Graham Foundation Production and Presentation grants has joined a field of notable proposals in their inquiry into the future of architecture and the built environment. Among the twelve grantees in the category, Alican Taylan stands out for his criticism of capitalistic development schemes, industry norms that are out of touch with human needs, and exploitative practices that take advantage of impending ecological emergencies.

Taylan, an architectural designer, critic, and engineer, had been reading Lefebvre and working on marine projects after undergrad when the 2013 Gezi Park protests in Istanbul triggered a shift in his thinking. The protests furthered the idea for him that space is indeed political and sparked an interest in research topics at the center of his forthcoming exhibition. In early ...

"African Modernism: Architecture of Independence" showcases a history of no easy answers

2016-03-27T11:44:00-04:00

"African Modernism: The Architecture of Independence" is a sprawling and immersive exhibition that uses every inch of available gallery space at Chicago’s Graham Foundation. Curated by Manuel Herz with input for this particular exhibition by Sarah Herda, head of Graham Foundation, the show is based on Herz’s voluminous tome of the same name. At over 700 pages, Herz’s scholarly investigation and cataloging of modern architecture in Ghana, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, and Zambia provided a surplus of projects and information, requiring a careful distillation to produce the exhibition.

The motley life and uncertain legacy of Lina Bo Bardi

2015-05-04T10:32:00-04:00

Lina Bo Bardi: Together is not, and does not attempt to be, the definitive collection of Lina Bo Bardi’s work, but rather an examination of her life, influences, and motivations for producing her timeless architecture and enduring contributions to Brazilian, particularly Bahian, culture.