This is a Rehearsal November 01–February 11, 2024

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Vision

Curated by the interdisciplinary arts collective the Floating Museum, the fifth edition of the Chicago Architecture Biennial, This is a Rehearsal, took an expansive view of design as an iterative process to explore architecture, cities, and the social, ecological, economic, and political forces that shape them. Featuring the work of more than 80 local and global participants across outdoor community sites and major exhibition spaces throughout Chicago, the edition foregrounded contributions from artists, architects, engineers, performers, poets, and others who collectively set the stage for the cross-pollination of ideas. Their work challenged conventional understandings of how cities function, who plays a role in shaping them, and how proposed solutions might respond to the overlapping crises of contemporary life. Recognizing that cities are always evolving through the actions of their inhabitants, This is a Rehearsal, embraced rehearsal as a framework for open dialogue, creative invention, and generative discovery, centering hope and care as essential components of architectural practice. Dialogue—through conversations, performances, installations, drawings, and new technologies—was treated as a critical tool for questioning the status quo and imagining alternative futures.

A Long Walk Home; Amanda Williams; Amy Kulper / PROPS SUPPLY; Andrea Carlson; Anupama Kundoo Atelier GmbH; Asim Waqif; Baerbel Mueller; Barkow Leibinger; Black Reconstruction Collective; Botanical City; The Buell Center and AD—WO, Columbia University; Camille Henrot; Candice Lin; Carme Pinós; Carol Ross Barney with Ryan Gann and DuSable Park Design Alliance; Cecil McDonald; ChartierDalix; Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project; Chris Bradley; Chris T Cornelius / studio:indigenous; Could Be Design; Dan Peterman; David Benjamin / The Living and GSAPP Footprint Project; Deb Sokolow; Depave Chicago + The Montessori School of Englewood; Diana Al-Hadid; Diane Simpson; Dream the Combine; Edra Soto; Eve L. Ewing; Feda Wardak; Gamaliel Rodriguez; Gelitin; Grow Greater Englewood; Helmo; The High Line; House of Kapwa; Ibrahim Mahama; IE University / Romina Canna; Institute for Computational Design and Construction / Prof. Achim Menges + Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design / Prof. Jan Knippers / ITECH & IntCDC Cluster of Excellence, University of Stuttgart; interim studio / Nora Akawi and Eduardo Rega Calvo; Jan Tichy; Jean-Marie Appriou; Jeff Carter; Jennifer Reeder and Adri Sitiwat; Jody Graf; Joel Putnam; Kane One / Graffiti Institute; Keller Easterling; Kiel Moe; Lanza; Larissa Fassler; Leticia Pardo; Limbo Accra; LOT-EK; Modou Dieng Yacine; Norman Teague Design Studios / Tonika Johnson / Max Davis / Ernest Wong / Mejay Gula / Tanner Woodford; Oren Pinhassi; Paa Joe; Para Project; Paul Ramírez Jonas; Perry Kulper; Philippe Rahm; Practice Landscape; Project Onward with Ricky Willis and Kareem Davis; Red Clay Dance Company; Roy Kinsey; Ruth de Jong; saay|yaas; Samuel Levi Jones / LAA Office / Sam Van Aken; site / site design group, ltd.; SKETCH; Slo ‘Mo; South Side Community Art Center; SpaceShift Collective; Steel Studio; Storefront for Art and Architecture; Stoss Landscape Urbanism; studio chahar in collaboration with The Apprenticeshop; Terra Alta; The Buell Center and AD—WO, Columbia University; Urban Growers Collective / Erika Allen; Theatre for One; Tiny Desk; Tschabalala Self; Ugo Rondinone; Vyjayanthi V. Rao and Kush Badhwar with Sagarika Sundaram; WOJR

Cities are always evolving—continuously shaped and reshaped by the millions of people who inhabit them through a process of action and reaction. Over time, the accumulation of buildings and infrastructure creates a layered index of the ideals and policies of past generations. Rehearsal invites new possibilities through open dialogue, creative invention, and a generative process of discovery to understand how hope and care can emerge in architecture. Harnessing dialogue is paramount to CAB 5’s conception of rehearsal. It is a productive tool that establishes new lines of thinking that question the status quo through modes ranging from conversations and performances to installations, drawings, and new technologies. In this sense, CAB 5 welcomes alternative ways of making architecture and engages everyone to rethink, rework, and reimagine the present and future of cities.