Blair Kamin

(Newser) - Students of urban design should take a lesson from a new condominium development in Chicago's northern suburbs, the Chicago Tribune's architectural critic Blair Kamin says. Its three 20-story buildings in Skokie not only "create an instant skyline for a suburb that doesn't have one," they use Lego-like layers...

(Newser) - Taking a page from Frank Lloyd Wright's book, architect Santiago Calatrava has created a '"total design" for his Chicago Spire, which will be the the world's tallest residential building upon completion. Unlike Wright, who could be downright dictatorial about what furniture would be placed in his houses (and where),...

(Newser) - The Chicago Spire, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, is finally under way. Following an ownership change, a design change and a name change, what will become the nation’s tallest building will be completed in 2010.