21 Firms to Watch at the 2017 Chicago Architecture Biennial

Today, the Chicago Architecture Biennial (CAB) announced a list of over 100 international firms and artists set to participate in the second edition of the exhibition, entitled “Make New History.” Their work will be showcased at the Chicago Cultural Center from September 16, 2017, to January 7, 2018.

The exhibition will be curated by the 2017 Biennial Artistic Directors Sharon Johnston and Mark Lee of Los Angeles–based firm Johnston Marklee. Johnston and Marklee have picked a cohort of designers representing 22 countries around the world, 12 of which are from the United States, with 10 percent from Chicago. Notably, there are 56 women principals designated at the helm of this year’s lineup.

“We hope to examine, through the work of the chosen participants,” said Johnston, “the continuous engagement with questions of history and architecture as an evolutionary practice.”

Below are 21 firms, artists and collaborations not to miss at the 2017 Chicago Architecture Biennial:

Manetti Shrem Museum / SO – IL, © Chicago Architecture Biennial

1. Ana Prvacki and SO – IL,Los Angeles, USA

Serpentine Summer House, London / Barkow Leibinger, © Chicago Architecture Biennial

2. Barkow Leibinger, Berlin, Germany

Kuntmuseum Basel Extension and Renovation / Christ & Gantenbein, © Chicago Architecture Biennial

3. Christ & Gantenbein, Basel, Switzerland

Structures of Landscape for Tippet Rise Art Center / ENSAMBLE, © Chicago Architecture Biennial

4. ENSAMBLE STUDIO, Madrid, Spain

Philharmonic Hall / Estudio Barozzi Veiga, © Chicago Architecture Biennial

5. Estudio Barozzi Veiga, Barcelona, Spain

Garage House / fala atelier, © Chicago Architecture Biennial

6. fala atelier, Porto, Portugal

La Tallera / Frida Escobedo, © Chicago Architecture Biennial / Rafael Gamo

7. Frida Escobedo, Mexico City, Mexico

Hasselt Court House / J. Mayer H., © Chicago Architecture Biennial

8. J. MAYER H. and Philip Ursprung, Berlin, Germany

8183, 2016 from the series Chicago, 2016 – 2017 / James Welling and David Swirner,© Chicago Architecture Biennial

9. James Welling, New York, USA

Louisiana Canopy / Kéré Architecture, © Chicago Architecture Biennial

10. Kéré Architecture, Berlin, Germany

23/100 / MAIO,© Chicago Architecture Biennial

11. MAIO, Barcelona, Spain

School No. 1 / MOS,© Chicago Architecture Biennial

12. MOS, New York, USA

Biennial / Norman Kelley, © Chicago Architecture Biennial / Spencer McNeil

13. Norman Kelley, Chicago, USA

Nida House / Pezo Von Ellrichshausen,© Chicago Architecture Biennial

14. Pezo Von Ellrichshausen, Concepción, Chile

Grace Farms / SANAA, © Chicago Architecture Biennial

15. SANAA, Tokyo, Japan

Sustainable Housing Model / Tatiana Bilbao Estudio, © Chicago Architecture Biennial

16. Tatiana Bilbao Estudio, Mexico City, Mexico

Kalmar Museum of Art / Tham & Vildegård Arkitekter,© Chicago Architecture Biennial

17. Tham & Vildegård Arkitekter, Stockholm, Sweden

The Orchards / Tigerman McCurry Architects, © Chicago Architecture Biennial

18. Tigerman McCurry Architects, Chicago, USA

Thread Artist Residency / Toshiko Mori Architect,© Chicago Architecture Biennial

19. Toshiko Mori Architect, New York, USA

Nanshan Yuehai Neighborhood Sport and Cultural Center / URBANUS,© Chicago Architecture Biennial

20. URBANUS, Shenzhen and Beijing, China

The Stealth Building / WORKac,© Chicago Architecture Biennial

21. WORK Architecture Company, New York, USA