How Midcentury Architects Solved the Scale Problem

In this video, we journey through the unique intersections of architecture and furniture design. Have you ever seen a building and thought, "that looks just like my dresser!"? Well, you're not alone. Learn more about the iconic Chippendale Skyscraper at 550 Madison Ave and why it's often likened to a piece of antique furniture. We’ll dive deeply into the connections between skyscrapers and their furniture counterparts, using the Civic Opera Building in Chicago and mid-century modernism as prime examples.

Highlights:
+ Origin & history of the Chippendale Skyscraper
+ Post-modernism & embracing design controversy
+ Mid Century Modernism: Spoons, chairs, and cities
+ Mies van der Rohe & Eero Saarinen's contributions

Don't forget to check out our other video on the recent construction of a Mies building for Indiana University! As always, remember to LIKE, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE for more explorations into design and architecture.

__CREDITS__
Video co-produced and edited by Evan Montgomery.
Stock video and imagery provided by Getty Images, Storyblocks, and Shutterstock.
Music provided by Epidemic Sound

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__About the Channel__
Architecture with Stewart is a YouTube journey exploring architecture’s deep and enduring stories in all their bewildering glory. Weekly videos and occasional live events breakdown a wide range of topics related to the built environment in order to increase their general understanding and advocate their importance in shaping the world we inhabit.

__About Me__
Stewart Hicks is an architectural design educator that leads studios and lecture courses as an Associate Professor in the School of Architecture at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He also serves as an Associate Dean in the College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts and is the co-founder of the practice Design With Company. His work has earned awards such as the Architecture Record Design Vanguard Award or the Young Architect’s Forum Award and has been featured in exhibitions such as the Chicago Architecture Biennial and Design Miami, as well as at the V&A Museum and Tate Modern in London. His writings can be found in the co-authored book Misguided Tactics for Propriety Calibration, published with the Graham Foundation, as well as essays in MONU magazine, the AIA Journal Manifest, Log, bracket, and the guest-edited issue of MAS Context on the topic of character architecture.

__Contact__
FOLLOW me on instagram: @stewart_hicks & @designwithco

#architecture #urbandesign

[thomaseboland]

My father was the Project Manager for AT&T for the 550 Madison project. He signed Philip Johnson's contract. Philip Johnson did know that it looked like that, and it was his intention. "Every building needs a top". So, he was happy enough with the Chippindale moniker from the beginning. BTW, I took the first site survey photos of the location because my father couldn't afford for any information about AT&T building on the site leaking out until all the properties were purchased. That's another fun story.

[beckerderbacker]

Would you ever consider doing a video on the design of office furniture in the 20th century? From typewriters to computers, office chairs to desks, etc? And how those designs jive or don't jive with the skyscrapers/buildings they are installed in.

[roccobierman]

The history on the Civic Opera House is just fantastic. Chicago spiting New York and building grand architecture over that snub is something you'd expect royalty from days of old to do.

[de-fault_de-fault]

The magic of early postmodernism was that all you had to do is say “no more plain rectangles” and everyone would be impressed, no matter how dumb your alternative was.

[JohnFromAccounting]

I went to a furniture exhibition in the Tasmania Museum, and there were a lot of "chairs" that were totally dysfunctional as household objects. It's important for architects to understand how humans interact with an object in order to understand how they interact with a built space.

[philipprenner]

Living in the tropics I really was astounded by the possibility of ice falling from a roof, you never stop learning, thanks for your interesting videos.

[buckswamp]

I would love to see you do a video on the architecture of Detroit. Many great buildings designed by notable architects such as Albert Khan, Wirt Rowland, and even Mies Van der Rohe.

[aurelienf]

Thank you for this video, the Barcelona chair is by far my favorite piece of furniture. It is also important to acknowledge the major role of Lilly Reich in its design (assistants and especially women are often forgotten)

[edramirez]

I always liked 550 Madison. This is especially true given that surrounding neighborhood is full of Art Deco and International Style buildings. I remember how the critics lambasted Johnson and AT&T (the original owner and tenant). Now, its a landmark and iconic feature of NYC.

[ohhgodineedmoore]

According to Wikipedia, Furniture refers to objects intended to support various human activities such as seating (e.g., stools, chairs, and sofas), eating (tables), storing items, working, and sleeping (e.g., beds and hammocks). A building also supports human activities, therefore a building is a massive concrete furniture.

[raylopez]

From the few times I've watched, this channel tells a story to non-specialists and I like that, since I don't study architecture. Also it gives a capsule history. Well done to interest casual viewers. Subscribed.

[kaylamanor]

This is extremely informative and detailed, and you use amazing references. Showing us what a chair of the day looked like next to the mid modern chair is such a good detail that most videos miss these days.

[doppel]

I was never too keen about American English, but Stewart's accent is beautiful. Reminds me of the way actors spoke back in 1940s.

[christophercasey]

One of your best videos (IMO): great presentation and sequencing, lot of great images to literally illustrate points, and pacing was great too!

[aes]

Great video Stewart, I’m a devoted modernist. I was living in New York when the AT&T building was built. To say I was appalled is an understatement, though over time it’s become a familiar part of the architectural landscape.

[magicknight]

What an excellent video!!!! I could replay this 20 times and never get bored and always learn something new. I can't wait to watch this many more times

[philipfrancis]

Good Lord! I absolutely LOVE listening and learning from you! As a Chicago architecture buff it’s great to see first hand so much of your content!

[christopherstephenjenksbsg]

I've never been a fan of Johnson's AT&T Building, for all the reasons I generally dislike Post-Modern architecture. However, I'm glad it was preserved, and that the horrible plans for remodelling it were never put in place. Like it or not, it is too important a work of architecture to be monkeyed around with. I also really like the base of the building. I liked it when it was an open arcade, although even then I realized that feature was problematic. It wasn't a pleasant place to hang out, and after dark it was kind of creepy. I think the current infill stores were very well done. I also like the interiors of the main lobby and sky lobby, although I understand those were both remodelled in the recent work, so I don't know what they look like now.

Regarding chairs, I'll take Saarinen over Mies any day. They both had their problems as architects, but Saarinen worked very hard to make his buildings and his furniture warm and human-scaled, while Mies's buildings tend to be cold and lifeless, and his famous Barcelona chairs are beautiful to look at, but God help you if you try to sit in one. There's such a thing as being too pure.

[Stammer]

I was really curious how you were going to compare and contrast the design of skyscrapers and furniture for a full 15 minutes, but I was enthralled the whole time. I'd never think of stuff like this, but when you point them out, it seems crazy obvious.

[CheeseDud]

Really enjoyed this video! Learned a lot!

1) I’m from High Point NC where we have literal buildings constructed to look like furniture. Thought this was about those at first 😂

2) The womb chair is one of the most comfortable chairs I’ve ever sat in. I miss the ones at my alma mater greatly