Yesterday I finally went to visit Chicago’s Center for Architecture. I was impressed with the scale model of downtown with every single building represented in sharp detail. The accompanying short history of the city helps to understand the growth pattern and shape the city took.
On the second floor, the Center displays models of famous skyscrapers in Chicago and around the world as well as models of current projects provided by the architectural firms associated with them. I was deeply disappointed by the Jeanne Gang Vista towers reminding me of a bad interpretation of a Brancusi sculpture.
The O’Hare expansion models were on display as well, for me, there are only two worth considering – the Santiago Calatrava proposal and the ORD proposal, the others are way below par for a city that wishes to be a leader in architectural projects. The Calatrava proposal has been described as the most ambitious, meaning the one that considers its surroundings as well as its footprint. It will most likely be discarded due to budget concerns and God help us if the SOM proposal is accepted sighting budgetary goals.
The new projects on display made me think how far we are from where we need to be in terms of urban ecological concerns and how time and again the issue seems to revolve around budgetary limitations. A thought came to mind – given the dismal outcomes of the current monetary system could there be a special branch of the federal mint dedicated to landmark projects such as the O’Hare expansion. This special branch would be charged to mint the money necessary to build such projects only earmarked for them. For example, if the Calatrava proposal is considered the most appropriate for Chicago, the city does not need to go borrow money for it. A request would be made to the Federal Mint and the proposal would be considered by a non-partisan committee in charge of infrastructure projects. The mint would then procure the money on a timely basis only to pay for the actual expenditures of that project and nothing else. There would be no middleman profiteering and no pay to play scheme the city is known for. This will not place Chicago in further debt and its citizens stuck with the interest payments. I know this will irate the current money lenders and banks that always make a killing at these projects but that is the point, these projects should not be fodder for the already rich to get richer. Many economists will cite how this will disturb the way the markets work. So what! Have the markets worked thus far? Every indication is that the current state of finances has promoted great injustice and environmental degradation at a pace where the planet is the victim. Expenditures should focus on procuring the best possible outcomes for the public and the environment and budgetary concerns should not get in the way of good works. As it is these projects are driven by bean counters and corrupt politicians rather than visionary talented designers.
