Chicago Tour Highlights 'Ugly Architecture'

The tour's creator wants to give visitors a different take on the city, pointing out the quirky gems amid its notoriously beautiful buildings.

1 minute read

November 2, 2021, 7:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction

Shutterstock

As Christopher Borrelli reports, a new architectural tour in Chicago highlights its least impressive buildings––and gives tourists and locals a fresh look at the city.

Mike McMains started the tour to bring a critical eye to the buildings that get overlooked. McMains tells Borrelli that "Chicago loves its architecture and loves showcasing it to the world and tourists, but then you don’t see anyone talking about all of these other buildings we have, and if everything you’re seeing is great and beautiful, you need to know the ugly to understand the beautiful."

Borrelli describes his experience on the Ugly Buildings Tour, during which McMains points out structures that, for a variety of reasons, people find unattractive or unwelcoming.

Read more about the tour in the source article.

FULL STORY: Heard enough about Chicago’s oh so lovely architecture? May we suggest a walk with the Ugly Buildings Tour

Monday, November 1, 2021 in Chicago Tribune

Architecture History / Preservation Humor Illinois Chicago Ugly Buildings Ugly Buildings Tour View More

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.