Chicago's Architectural Biennial Draws Mixed Reviews

After an October kick-off that drew 31,000 attendees in just a few days, the Chicago Architectural Biennial, called the “largest exhibition of contemporary architecture in the history of North America”, quietly concluded earlier this month, drawing mixed reviews.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel called it an “unequivocal success.” And it seemed to be — eventgoers hailed from more than 30 countries, resulting in a crowd of more than 500,000 visitors.

However, critics found the Biennial confusing, due to the lack of unifying theme. Many of the exhibits — such as 3D-printed potato chips—didn’t seem to reflect the future of building design.

Chicago Tribune architecture critic Blair Kamin, a Biennial enthusiast, found the variety of displays, including a three-legged rock sculpture, somewhat “bewildering.”

You can read more reactions and reviews of the Biennial here.

Did you make it to the exhibit? What did you think?