Chicago: The Burnham Plan Centennial

Make no Little Plans. They have no magic to stir men's blood and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble logical diagram once recorded will never die, but long after we are gone will be a living thing, asserting with growing intensity.

— Daniel Burnham, 1909 Plan of Chicago

As the 19^th century gave way to the 20^th century, Chicago—its population nearing two million— became the second largest city in the United States. With its favorable mid-continent location and access to natural resources, the City had rapidly industrialized and become a manufacturing center. This fast, unplanned growth also led to serious problems, such as squalor, ugliness, and smoke pollution, which threatened its future vigor. Moreover, the Chicago River, which ran through the City and was vital to its economy, was a cesspool. To continue to thrive, the City had to rectify these issues and plan for the future.

In 1909 after several years of work, architects and urban planners Daniel Burnham and Edward H. Bennett published a Plan of Chicago. Popularly called the Burnham Plan, the 1909 Plan of Chicago was visionary and in the ensuing century has served the City well. For me, the most notable parts of the Plan deal with the claims it made about what constitutes public land and the rights of individuals to public land. They are notable because in not catering to the politicians and vested interests of the era and letting them gobble up the land for their own profit, they showed great insight into the needs of people and nature. According to the Plan, every citizen should be within walking distance of a park, and "The lakefront by right belongs to the people. Not a foot of its shores should be appropriated to the exclusion of the people." Today, 100 years later, of the City's 29 miles of lakefront, all but four miles are public parkland, and the city and its environs are home to a host of public parks and preserves, many of which I've enjoyed.

In this, the centennial year of the Plan, a number of projects and events have been planned to recognize the huge legacy of the Burnham Plan to Chicagoland. A few weeks ago, my friend Georgene and I took the train into Chicago to visit two temporary pavilions that have been erected at Millennium Park in honor of the Burnham Plan.

I am anxious to see the pavilions since they will close on October 31. In addition, I also really like Millennium Park and want to visit it once again. Opened in July 2004, Millennium Park is an exciting contemporary manifestation of the thought and ideas put forth in the Burnham Plan.

Entering Millennium Park, we walk past the Crown Fountain as we look for the pavilions and discover them in the Chase Promenade South. Hot and somewhat tired after our ten-block walk from the train station, we rest a bit on a bench in a relatively shady spot before exploring the pavilions. Georgene is one of the best conversationalists I've ever encountered, and we have our usual animated conversation. Eventually we get up to circle the first pavilion designed by Zaha Hadid Architects in London and explore the outside.

Burnham Centennial Pavilion designed by Zaha Hadid Architects in London, United Kingdom. Most people think the pavilion resembles a conch shell

The outer and inner shells of the pavilion are made of fabric stretched over aluminum ribs. Made of totally recyclable materials, the structure can be dismantled and reassembled elsewhere.

Zaha Hadid was born in Baghdad, Iraq.

Going inside the white structure, it feels as if we're entering a very bright and open tent. Georgene remarks on how the slits at the top of the pavilion cleverly ventilate the pavilion and allow light to enter. We had not noticed the slits when we walked outside.

Window slits covered with mesh allow air and light into the pavilion and offer a view of the City.

The light coming through the window slits makes interesting designs on the interior walls.

Light filters through the window slits forming a zebra-like pattern inside the Zaha pavilion.

Before we leave the Zaha pavilion, I cajole Georgene into letting me take her photo as a remembrance.

My long-time friend, Gather member Georgene K., indulges me and lets me snap her image outside the Zaha Hadid pavilion at Millennium Park.

Georgene and I move on to the second pavilion designed by Ben van Berkel. Perhaps because I'm more tired or because I don't like this pavilion as well as Zaha Hadid's pavilion, I don't examine it as closely.

Burnham Centennial pavilion designed by Ben van Berkel of UNStudio in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Looking like it's made of white foam, at first glance the Berkel UNStudio pavilion appears fragile and lightweight, but its skeleton and foundation are made of steel. The steel was sponsored by a firm with North American headquarters in Chicago and will be recycled at the end of the exhibition.

After enjoying a delicious lunch in the Park Grill, we meander through the park some more before heading back to the train station. As we leave, I snap a photo of a City street as seen from the park.

View from Millennium Park looking west onto E. Washington Street. The building with the Ionic columns on the corner to the right is the Chicago Cultural Center.

Happy birthday to the Plan of Chicago!  Thank you, Daniel Burnham and Edward H. Bennett. We remember you.

"[R]emembering that . . . long after we are gone [the results of our efforts] will be a living thing, asserting with growing intensity."

— Daniel Burnham, 1909 Plan of Chicago

Additional Information on the Burnham Plan Centennial

The Burnham Plan Centennial

The Plan of Chicago

Photo of UNStudio Pavilion at night

Photo of UNStudio Pavilion at dusk

Photos of Chicago's Skyline and Millennium Park

Chicago Skyline Views. Verie Sandborg photo album posted July 31, 2009

January in Chicago: Millennium Park, by Verie Sandborg. Posted January 15, 2007