Alice SinkevitchCritiques

This review is for the 2nd edition of this book.
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The AIA Guide to Chicago is a listing of all of the architecturally interesting buildings and structures in Chicago with addresses and descriptions. The photos are limited and are sadly all in black and white. I could see how this guidebook might be cool if you lived in the city, but as far as actually carrying it around with you to bring if you're visiting, the book is just too darn heavy.½

If you are a Chicagoan and/or an architecture buff (professional or amateur), or are visiting our city, you absolutely have to have this book. Divided by area, further subdivided by neighborhood, each section lists by address, with good maps, important architectural sites, and provides information on each. However, it is not limited to famous buildings, but includes many residences, cool buildings you didn't know about, and typical Chicago architecture. With this book in hand, you can pick a neighborhood, go for a walk, and discover treasures.

If you prefer a guide, try The Chicago Architecture Foundation

One oddity is that this book chooses to include listings for Oak Park, a suburb immediately west of Chicago, because of its many Frank Lloyd Wright homes, though many other buildings are also included. Yet it does not include River Forest, an adjacent suburb that is also home to FLW buildings. Other suburbs, such as Evanston and Riverside, also have architecturally significant and interesting buildings. I suppose they had to stop somewhere!