Anniversary Pavilions Speak to Future
The Burnham Pavilions exhibit opens today at Millennium Park
To commemorate the Burnham plan of 1909, the city opens its two new outdoor sculptures in Millennium Park today.
When "The Bean" (Cloudgate) just isn’t enough to satiate your appetite, the Burnham Plan Centennial fills your plate with a smorgasbord of architectural innovation.
The Burnham Pavilions at Millennium Park have opened, marking the 100th anniversary of the Plan of Chicago, by Daniel H. Burnham.
The three architects of the pavilions -- hailing from Amsterdam, the Netherlands and London --- collaborated on structures that speak to a future-focused Chicago.
“Public art and visionary design are necessary for any city to play a global leadership role in the 21st Century,” John Bryan, Burnham Plan Centennial Committee co-chair, said. “These two Burnham Pavilions make bold statements to the world, as did Millennium Park, about Chicago’s confidence in its future.”
But don’t expect to see the finished products at today’s debut. For at least one pavilion, its now-aluminum structure will be wrapped with fabric skins that will serve as a sound-and-video art installation later this summer.
For more on Burnham's impact on architecture and Chicago, read Julia Vitullo-Martin's "Chicago, City Without Limits."
So, now is the time to escape to the future, Chicago.
Bon appetit.
Posted Thursday, Jul 16, 2009 - 5:18 PM CST
