On Friday night of Magi, January 5 at 5:30 pm., in the Chicago Cultural Center, the Chicago Architecture Biennial will present the screening of the documentary made by Nathan Eddy, "Starship Chicago", showing the history and uncertain future of the Thompson Center, designed by Helmut Jahn, home to many of the state government agencies in Illinois.
A provocative start for this documentary entitled "Starship Chicago" and directed by Nathan Eddy. The filming is actually a declaration in favor of the conservation of the building, after acerse public the intentions of the governor of the State to sell it to the highest bidder.
In a country, the USA, which understands conservation and heritage in a much lighter sense than in Europe, it is always interesting to debate whether the criteria for conserving architectural heritage have to be above the tastes of each one, the aesthetic canons of a specific moment or even simple relations between cost and benefit.
An extremely necessary debate, when it comes to recent architecture, and brought to the foreground by exhibitions such as that of Cronocaos by Rem Koolhaas presented at the Venice Biennale in 2010 and which has provoked debates, reflections and interesting research such as the recent publication by Verónica Rosero "Demolición: El agujero negro de la Modernidad"
A debate full of examples such as the aforementioned Prentice Women hospital in Chicago, the Guzman house in Madrid, the Robin Hood Garden houses in London and many others. In the words of Susana Landrove, director of the Fundación Docomomo Ibérico "Heritage is not something that exist it is something that is created"
"The adjective ugly or pretty is often an no-cultural drift. That is, expression of a lack of knowledge and a poor development of perceptual sensitivity," answers the professor emeritus of the University of Seville Víctor Pérez Escolano to the question: how would you explain to someone that there is to keep a building that seems like a authentic horror? "The explanation must begin in the schools, previous preparation of the professors. And in the media. We do not have to like all the same works alike, but we do respect the highest common denominator of the architecture that is testimony of our contemporaneity that has to be protected and conserved ".
A screening of Nathan Eddy’s new short film “Starship Chicago” is the catalyst for an expansive conversation that brings in diverse perspectives – from admiration to doubt -- about the historical value and future fate of the State of Illinois Center/James R. Thompson Center designed by Chicago architect Helmut Jahn.
Since it was completed in 1985 the state government building has been admired and eye- catching and a source of controversy. Celebrated by some as a breathtaking postmodern icon that innovatively celebrates Illinois citizenship, others revile the structure as a wasteful and garish albatross. Today the decidedly idiosyncratic building shows scars of deferred maintenance. With fiscal austerity on the political agenda it faces an uncertain fate.
A panel discussion follows a screening of the 20-minute short film. The discussion brings together diverse viewpoints – from the arts, architectural practice, design criticism, government, history, preservation advocacy and the development community. The conversation sparked by the film will address the local, state and international value and lasting global interest of Jahn’s artistic statement and a symbol of Illinois citizens, consider the controversies over its use and function, and in light of its potential demolition and loss, explore how “making new history” by repurposing a site brings both opportunities and challenges.
Participants include.-
—So, is this about the Illinois State Building of Helmut (Jahn)? What happens if I hate it?
—We're here to find out what you think.
—Well, I think it's crap.
That's how brutally this documentary begins, with the words of architect Stanley Tigerman in this 20-minute document that brings the debate on modernity and its accelerated destruction back to the table.—We're here to find out what you think.
—Well, I think it's crap.
A provocative start for this documentary entitled "Starship Chicago" and directed by Nathan Eddy. The filming is actually a declaration in favor of the conservation of the building, after acerse public the intentions of the governor of the State to sell it to the highest bidder.
In a country, the USA, which understands conservation and heritage in a much lighter sense than in Europe, it is always interesting to debate whether the criteria for conserving architectural heritage have to be above the tastes of each one, the aesthetic canons of a specific moment or even simple relations between cost and benefit.
An extremely necessary debate, when it comes to recent architecture, and brought to the foreground by exhibitions such as that of Cronocaos by Rem Koolhaas presented at the Venice Biennale in 2010 and which has provoked debates, reflections and interesting research such as the recent publication by Verónica Rosero "Demolición: El agujero negro de la Modernidad"
A debate full of examples such as the aforementioned Prentice Women hospital in Chicago, the Guzman house in Madrid, the Robin Hood Garden houses in London and many others. In the words of Susana Landrove, director of the Fundación Docomomo Ibérico "Heritage is not something that exist it is something that is created"
"The adjective ugly or pretty is often an no-cultural drift. That is, expression of a lack of knowledge and a poor development of perceptual sensitivity," answers the professor emeritus of the University of Seville Víctor Pérez Escolano to the question: how would you explain to someone that there is to keep a building that seems like a authentic horror? "The explanation must begin in the schools, previous preparation of the professors. And in the media. We do not have to like all the same works alike, but we do respect the highest common denominator of the architecture that is testimony of our contemporaneity that has to be protected and conserved ".
A screening of Nathan Eddy’s new short film “Starship Chicago” is the catalyst for an expansive conversation that brings in diverse perspectives – from admiration to doubt -- about the historical value and future fate of the State of Illinois Center/James R. Thompson Center designed by Chicago architect Helmut Jahn.
Since it was completed in 1985 the state government building has been admired and eye- catching and a source of controversy. Celebrated by some as a breathtaking postmodern icon that innovatively celebrates Illinois citizenship, others revile the structure as a wasteful and garish albatross. Today the decidedly idiosyncratic building shows scars of deferred maintenance. With fiscal austerity on the political agenda it faces an uncertain fate.
A panel discussion follows a screening of the 20-minute short film. The discussion brings together diverse viewpoints – from the arts, architectural practice, design criticism, government, history, preservation advocacy and the development community. The conversation sparked by the film will address the local, state and international value and lasting global interest of Jahn’s artistic statement and a symbol of Illinois citizens, consider the controversies over its use and function, and in light of its potential demolition and loss, explore how “making new history” by repurposing a site brings both opportunities and challenges.
Participants include.-
Pam Althoff, Illinois State Senator, 32nd District
Elizabeth Blasius, Architectural historian
Nathan Eddy, "Starship Chicago" director
Jack Guthman, Developer's attorney, Board Chair of the Chicago Architecture Biennial
Jonathan Solomon, Architect and Director of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago's Architecture, Interiors and Designed Objects Program
Moderator.- Lee Bey, Vice President of Planning, Education and Museum Experience at the DuSable Museum of African American History
Presented in partnership with Landmarks Illinois. Click here to RSVP for this event.
![SOM: Engineering x [Art + Architecture]. Image courtesy SOM](/sites/default/files/styles/mopis_home_news_category_slider_desktop/public/lead-images/metalocus_som_expo_bienal_chicago_2017_01.webp?h=c4ed616d&itok=72WeB_I_ "SOM: Engineering x [Art + Architecture]. Image courtesy SOM")
