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Chicago's New Exhibits Reveal Nature's Urban Embrace
10 Jun
Summary
- New exhibits explore Chicago's dense urban landscape and ecosystems.
- Installations highlight bird-safe building designs to prevent collisions.
- Exhibits feature soundscapes of natural habitats interwoven with city sounds.
The Chicago Architecture Center is debuting "Living Habitat" and "Flyway City," two exhibits exploring Chicago's relationship with its natural surroundings. "Living Habitat" presents 16 ecosystems, from Wisconsin to Indiana, demonstrating the hidden natural beauty within the metropolis. Openlands curated this exhibit.
"Flyway City," by Studio Gang, focuses on bird collisions with buildings. Thousands of migratory birds die annually colliding with Chicago's glass skyscrapers as they travel the Mississippi Flyway. The center itself has installed bird-safe window treatments.
These exhibits, running through January 3, 2027, use QR codes linking to audio recordings of ecosystems captured by specialized devices. These sounds mix urban noise with bird calls, emphasizing nature's integration into city life.
"Flyway City" showcases bird-friendly architecture and design principles, such as specialized glass patterns. It concludes with a call for a bird-friendly building ordinance for new Chicago constructions, aiming for buildings and nature to coexist harmoniously.
