Monday, August 10, 2009

Save Walter Gropius

The Gropius in Chicago Coalition needs more bodies. Tomorrow, Tuesday, Aug. 11th at 6pm, the Chicago 2016 Olympic Committee is hosting a community meeting at the Chicago Urban League, 4510 S. Michigan Avenue. The GCC indicates this may be the last opportunity to voice concern over the demolition of Michael Reese Hospital in a forum within that community.

A recent discovery made by Grahm Balkany indicates Gropius acted as a design architect to at least 8 of the 29 buildings on the 37 acre MRH site as well as the master plan. The design decisions were given to local architects of record to be drawn up while Gropius remained on board to ensure the designs maintained their original integrity. Gropius' involvement with MRH has rarely been documented and he has no other projects in Illinois.

Unfortunately, the site is slated for demolition to make way for the Olympic Village. The demolition contract was awarded several months ago and demolition of the landscaping has begun.

Gropius founded the Bauhaus school and worked under Peter Behrens with fellow colleagues Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier. He was Chairman of the Architecture Department at Harvard University until he retired from the position in 1952.

To voice your concern that an architectural legacy will be erased forever,
show up.

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