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Publications & Research
Architecture Is Fun makes everyday life fun. The studio’s ethos is based on the idea that architecture is one of the gateways to a more empathetic and equitable future. Sharon and Peter Exley believe making accessible places of learning, living, working, play, and fun to be indispensable for human growth and development. And they like to share these notions via Architecture Is Fun’s publications and research.
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University of Chicago Lillie House
Architecture Is Fun guided University of Chicago and Lab School through visioning and master planning to conceive new teaching spaces that support civic engagement and museum like study.
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What Keeps a Great Music Venue Great?
Rock ‘n’ roll addicts, we’ve spent many formative and memorable evenings, ear plugs in place, at renown rock venues. The best venues seem to have as Gibson Guitars so eloquently wrote: “…a raggedly dilapidated quality that feels part and parcel of rock music itself.” So when renovating a venue as we’re doing right now, how do we retain its inherent authenticity, vibe, and heritage?
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Educative Design®
For over twenty-five years in practice, Architecture Is Fun’s goal has been to achieve a dynamic architecture through leadership in educative design®. This educative design® ideology – design that educates as well as design that is fundamentally educated – is fulfilled through its participatory nature. Design educates by creating spaces for interactive play, learning, and self-discovery. Children and adults gain knowledge about themselves and the world around them in creative and innovative ways. Design is educated through interactions with the user constituents during the planning and prototyping process. Collaboration sessions held with local community members and creative sessions held with families help to educate the Architecture Is Fun design team…
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We Are AIA Chicago Firm of the Year!
Architecture Is Fun named AIA Chicago Firm of the Year is honored for their commitment to FUN, collaboration and their designs for “deeply humanistic and courageous” projects.
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DuPage Children’s Museum Renovation
We did it, the reviews are in and we received a 5 star rating…There were audible gasps of joy and delight. Everyone came together and with one big push…..we were open! Thank you for the passion, the hard work and the commitment that had us looking so beautiful at 4:00 today. The Mayor was truly moved and just in awe of what were able to do in a few months. ~ Sarah Orleans, President & CEO, DuPage Children’s Museum
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Young At Art Museum
EVERYONE (850,000 visitors since opening) visiting YAA is incredibly amazed with the exhibitions and the Young At Art Museum experience! Thank you to Architecture Is Fun for their creative vision and artful design that assists in defining YAA! ~ Mindy Shrago, Executive Director/CEO, Young At Art Shifting the museum paradigm, Young At Art Museum takes a sophisticated design approach to bridging the gap between an adult art museum and a children’s museum. The art museum for children features 22,000 SF of exhibit space designed by Architecture Is Fun, rich in branded environments, art installations and art-making opportunities. The John S. & James L. Knight Foundation says that Young At Art Museum…
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Frost Art Museum
The renovated family gallery is “super chill,” designed to be worthy of a child’s curiosity and adult admiration, demonstrating everyone is hard-wired for creativity. The whiteness of the space serves as a blank slate for artistic expression and media exploration, from new-age technologies, including a Smart Table™, projector and iPads, to traditional art-making. It is an environment rich in evocative objects and commissioned art installations that inspire active learning, choices, and social engagement. Both orientation and terminus, the discovery gallery is “the place” that frames museum visits.
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Pediatric Prototype
Make Pediatric Visits Happier. Challenged by an entrepreneurial medical practice to make pediatric visits happier, Architecture Is Fun creates a charming design embedded with forward-thinking strategies, technologies, and interactive fun.
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Ronald McDonald House
The house brings the serenity that families are looking for. ~ Mary Agnes Laguatan, Director of Programs, Ronald McDonald House Charities Building a multifamily “home away from home” for families of seriously ill children demonstrates the importance of building a sense of community through support, socialization, and shared experience. The three-story house nestled in a grove of trees greets families upon arrival, expressing the essence of home.
