Roman Mars, design enthusiast and host of 99% Invisible, explores the design details of Chicago. He discusses the origins of the street grid system, the symbolism of the Chicago flag, notable architectural features, and the significance of the 2024 Lexus GX in enhancing off-roading visibility.
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Quick takeaways
Chicago's carefully planned street grid has been a foundational element in shaping the city's architectural strength and easy navigation.
The Montgomery Ward building's deliberate design choice of excluding corner offices highlights the significance of stories in appreciating architectural design and maintaining an egalitarian company structure.
Deep dives
The Design of Chicago's Grid Streets
Chicago's street grid, laid out in the 1830s, is a pioneering example of urban planning. Surveyor James Thompson drew the plat, which established straight, uniformly spaced streets. The grid was later expanded as the city grew, encompassing over 230 square miles. The zero, zero point of the grid is located at the intersection of State and Madison Streets. The Brennan Plan, implemented in 1901, reorganized the street names and addresses, creating a navigational system based on a central point. This well-designed grid system has contributed to the city's architectural strength and easy navigation.
The Unique Montgomery Ward Building
The Montgomery Ward building, designed by Manuro Yamasaki, holds a fascinating story. The building, which later became luxury condos, was intentionally designed without corner offices to maintain an egalitarian company structure. This deliberate design choice prevented executives from having preferred office locations. The building's transformation and the story behind its unique architectural feature showcase the importance of stories in appreciating architectural design.
The Significance of the Chicago Flag
The Chicago flag is a symbol of the city's history and identity. It features two blue stripes representing the Chicago River and Lake Michigan, along with four six-pointed red stars denoting pivotal moments in the city's history. While the flag is highly regarded, the podcast suggests adding additional stars to commemorate the Thompson Plan, the grid system, and the Brennan Plan, the navigational system, both of which have played critical roles in shaping Chicago's architectural landscape.
The Importance of Revolving Doors
Revolving doors are plentiful in Chicago due to the city's extreme weather conditions. These doors, introduced in America by Theophilus Van Kannel, offer energy efficiency and prevent outdoor elements from affecting indoor environments. Despite some people feeling uncomfortable or claustrophobic while using revolving doors, efforts are made to encourage their use through signage and the assistance of door attendants. These doors have become a part of Chicago's architectural landscape and contribute to sustainable building practices.
A few years ago, at the very start of the pandemic, Roman Mars wrote an episode of 99pi in which he simply talked about design details in his house -- realizing that he, like the audience, didn't have many other places to go. (You should check it out. It's called "Roman Mars Describes Things As They Are"-- it’s a real time capsule and a fan favorite.) Since then, he's been thinking about and wanting to record a companion episode out in the world.
Over the next couple months, he's going to three cities that shaped who Roman is and how he thinks about design. We'll start in Chicago.
Chicago is a design lover's paradise, from its carefully thought-out original grid to its exceptionally stellar flag design. The city is home to some of the most influential architecture in the US as well.