Stories in Stone

I have spent much of my life exploring art and architecture both in its own right and as a means of digging deeper into history - whether it be cultural, political, etc. I am fascinated by all that can be discovered about a building, a city or a culture by simply taking a closer look at the art, architecture and design of a society.

Think of a city. What buildings or structures are the largest or most prominent? What types of spaces/buildings/institutions are at its geographical center? What can these answers tell you about what is most important to the culture and society of that place?

Think of a building of importance to you. What can the exterior design of that building tell you about what happens inside? What can its design tell you about the values of the people who frequent that building? What elements are you most drawn to?

Living in such an architecturally rich city like Chicago is an absolute gift to me, a lover of buildings, everyday. Even better, my son loves examining the details of buildings even more than I do, so we often go for “architecture” walks around the city. I love to draw his eye to the things I find most intriguing, but his 3 year old mind often leads me to see things I have never noticed before.

Go for your own “architecture walk” around your neighborhood or perhaps on a trip to a new town or city. Share your observations with a friend or family member. What will you discover?