Posts in Architecture
I Never Became an Architect... Or Did I?
I Never Became an Architect... Or Did I?

Did you know I have a degree in Architecture?

For years, I thought not mastering AutoCAD meant I'd failed in my chosen career. Looking back, I couldn't have been more wrong.

Architecture taught me how to think, solve problems, communicate ideas and adapt to new technology. Those skills have become the foundation of my work in digital marketing, where I now help architects, artists, nonprofits and small businesses tell their stories online.

Sometimes the path you planned isn't the one you're meant to take... But the journey still prepares you for exactly where you're supposed to be.

You can do anything if you set your mind to it.

Architecture, marketingChris Bickarchitecture, MarketingComment
The Yarns We Spin
The Yarns We Spin

I was honored to be invited to create an exterior installation for the 5th Annual Kingston Design Connection’s Showhouse. The one catch was, I couldn’t attach anything to the vinyl siding that could cause damage. Once again I found myself having to defy gravity and make magic.

I thought this project would be a great opportunity to collaborate with my long-time design partner, Buddy Valentine, who’s recent work has been creating incredible yarn patchworks. I initially took inspiration from classic window details and treatments. Translating these shapes into yarn forms for the exterior of the house. Buddy I were then worried about the long yarn strands tangling so we ended up changing the concept to smaller sized checkerboard pattern in lively colors. The colors were derived from the Ukrainian Flag, the transgender flag and since it was for October - orange for Halloween.

The secret ingredient that keeps the panel intact are siding clips used for hanging Christmas lights. The best find of my life.

Enjoy the following galleries showing the transformation form our first ideas to the finished product…

Our initial inspriation photos…

Our first design direction - more like curtains on the outside and our color pallet…

After being fearful of tangles, we moved into this direction… A checkerboard pattern. And then went into production. We had 25 total panels to make.

Next, the installation with ladders and a wonky scaffold. Did I mention I’m scared of heights?

And the final product…

Photos by Phil Mansfield

Architecture, design, display, installation, interior design, kingston, Kingston Design connectio, art installation, yarnChris BickInstallation, yarn, design, kingston design connection, design house, installation art, colorful, KingstonComment
With Honors
With Honors

While doing some Spring Cleaning in my file cabinet, I came across this old design competition I did to redesign the Cabrini Green Public Housing Project in Chicago - Sponsored by the Chicago Tribune, circa 1993. I didn't win but got an "honorable mention!"

You can read the little blurb but essentially the idea was to turn the site into shared-land farms with markets and the derelict buildings transformed to cultural/educational institutions.

Eek, that curved street dead-ending into the Chicago River is problematic but I love the patchwork colors and can totally see the Bernard Tschumi / Parc de la Villette influence. - C'mon folie.

#designcompetition #chicago #farm #patchwork #cabrinigreen #siteplan #publichousing #zoning #masterplan

Architecture, Artwork, chicago, design, Graphic Design, Landscape, rendering, design competitionChris BickCabrini greendesign, competition, chicago, landscape design, master planning, cabrini green, design competition, public house, public housingComment
Legoland
Legoland

Real life or Lego? As an 80s babies, my design passion was first ignited by a simple set of Legos that I would create into special worlds of my own (see last image) but this takes it to a whole new level.

The "comfort town" housing project by archimatika is a colorful development of concrete buildings in Kyiv, Ukraine, responding to the surrounding 50s and 60s communist-era housings

#architecture #colorful #lego #inspiration #designboom

ArchitectureChris Bicklego, architecture, designComment
That's a Tall Order
That's a Tall Order
doric trabeation Chris bick .jpg

"Doric Trabeation" - Watercolor on Arches Paper. I made this painting of the classic Doric Order of architecture in my first year of Architecture School (Univ of IL at Chicago, 1987). Crazy how time flies. I was really shocked to learn that the Greek Temples were really painted in these bright colors.

#architectureschool #watercolor #doric #trabeation #painting #greektemple #ancientGreece #Doricorder #Parthenon #Triglyphs #metopes #guttae #mutules #axonometric #entablature #Bucranium

Architecture, Artwork, watercolor, Throwback ThursdayChris Bickdoric, watercolor, trabeation, architecture, Ancient Greece, painting, vintage, artworkComment