Ashland Block, Chicago, Illinois, Floor Plans c. 1892

Curator: Today, we're examining a floor plan of the Ashland Block in Chicago, Illinois, created around 1892 by D.H. Burnham & Co. It's rendered in ink on paper, currently residing in the Art Institute of Chicago's collection. Editor: It feels incredibly rigid, almost imposing, doesn’t it? The lines are so precise and stark. It conveys a sense of power and order, but also a kind of…inhuman scale. Curator: Burnham was a major force in shaping Chicago’s urban landscape after the Great Fire, emphasizing efficient planning and modern materials. This plan gives us a glimpse into the commercial ambition of the city. We see a clear delineation of spaces – retail along Clark Street and what appear to be offices toward the back. Editor: Right, the emphasis on commerce is unmistakable. But, it makes me think about the actual people who would have inhabited these spaces. Were they accessible to all? Who benefited from this vision of modernity, and who was excluded by the design, the economics, and the very structures it built? How did spaces for businesses serve, or perhaps, fail the population surrounding it? Curator: Those are critical questions. Consider the social dynamics inherent in its design: the concentration of retail space facing the primary street suggests an understanding of pedestrian flow and consumer culture. Also the plan reflects prevailing ideas about hierarchy within the building. Editor: Absolutely, and understanding who held power, who designed and built this, who had access and capital – these aren't just questions about a building; they reflect broader socio-political dynamics in a rapidly changing city. What’s equally relevant is its survival and whether and how it was or wasn't adapted over the decades. Curator: Indeed, reflecting on architectural plans allows us to critically engage with both the aspirations and the oversights of the past. Editor: Yes, these seemingly simple floor plans act as powerful lenses through which to examine and reflect on broader issues of power, access, and social equity.