Barack Obama's new presidential center in Chicago, designed by Todd Williams and Billie Tsien, opened its doors as a free public space. This place integrates architecture, landscaping, culture, and sports, offering citizens a meeting point for recreation and learning. Nature and civics merge into a single site accessible to everyone.
Integrated design: technology and landscaping at the service of civics 🌿
The project stands out for its use of sustainable materials and energy efficiency systems. The main building employs a passive design that regulates temperature through orientation and surrounding vegetation. The outdoor spaces, with permeable pathways and rain gardens, manage water naturally. This technical approach aims to reduce environmental impact while creating a functional environment for civic and sports activities.
Completely free: the center that defies the logic of late capitalism 💥
The most notable thing is that everything is free. Yes, you read that right: free. In a world where even breathing seems to have a cost, this place offers everything from courts to workshops without asking for your credit card. Perhaps the architects forgot that everything is supposed to be monetized. Or maybe, just maybe, they remembered that public spaces can function without profit. A revolutionary concept.