Marina City: Bertrand Goldberg and the Aura of Chicago Modernism

3 units

This seminar explores the mid-century architectural modernism and its relationship to visual imagery, finance, and labor. It focuses on Bertrand Goldberg's Marina City, a pioneering mixed-use housing complex completed in 1964 in Chicago. With its unique circular form, Marina City quickly became a popular icon of modern lifestyle and was often represented in film, magazines, and on the CD covers. A study of Marina City's design, construction, promotion and reception will extend into a detailed study of Goldberg's entire opus, contextualizing his work within the larger trajectory of the Chicago School of Architecture. The course will draw comparisons to the work of Goldberg's educators, such as Mies van der Rohe and Josef Albers, as well as the work of other Chicago architects such as Walter Netsch and Harry Weese. Goldberg's work will be conceptualized within a broader socio-economic context, illuminating his buildings with a selection of primary theoretical texts relevant to architectural modernism. Course requirements include weekly reading summaries, in-class discussions, presentations and a substantial research project.