Still WANTED: New Homes for Chicago Architecture Biennial Projects

In the spirit of community and in an effort to reduce waste, the Chicago Architecture Biennial is offering a selection of its 2025 installations to cultural partners for installation and/or collection at no cost. Shipping and installation support may be provided as needed. Many works have already been claimed -- here are the two remaining...

To express interest and learn more: 

Anne Shook, anne@chicagoarchitecturebiennial.org

3) Soft Systems

Materials: fabric, cotton filling

Dimensions: 18 x 1 x 2.5’

Weight: 30 lb per panel

This installation features oversized soft drapes made from faux fur, industrial netting, and padded materials. The curtains transform the space into an immersive environment that invites visitors to slow down and engage their senses.

The work explores how materials designed for comfort and protection shape both physical space and emotional experience. By turning everyday textiles into large-scale architectural elements, the project highlights the cultural and social meanings embedded in the surfaces around us. Framed as a “partial reconstruction” from the Era of Softness—a time marked by over-comfort and abundance—the installation encourages reflection on material culture, memory, and how fashion and architecture influence the way we experience space.

5) Our Second Skin

Materials: glass pieces, metal structure, LED screens, lighting

Dimensions: 25’ x 10’

Weight: approx 5,500 lbs over 250 sq ft (approx. 22 lbs per sq ft)

This pavilion surrounds visitors with over 2,500 shimmering glass pieces, shaped like fish scales, forming a curved, translucent structure. Inside, a video plays featuring interviews with architects, engineers, and artists, all reflecting on the use of glass in architecture today.

The piece invites visitors to think about how glass shapes the cities we live in—from the light it lets in to the barriers it creates. While glass can feel elegant and open, its constant use around the world also raises questions about sustainability and sameness.

Technical Sheet

To express interest and learn more: 

Anne Shook, anne@chicagoarchitecturebiennial.org