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Building OdditiesSyracuse University School of Architecture
Thesis Project
Spring 2024
AdvisorKyle Miller

PhotographerMax Walewski Building Oddities delves into the concept of defamiliarization through artistic practices, reimagining architectural landmarks that survived the Great Chicago Fire. By employing techniques such as counter-figuration, material instability, and hybrid articulation, the project reinterprets these structures, highlighting their unique histories and envisioning their potential futures.

This document presents a rigorous exploration of how estrangement, a theory that transforms the familiar into the unfamiliar to evoke new aesthetic experiences, has been shaped by various artists and their innovative contributions. These ideas are applied to three carefully selected buildings, each embodying a distinct narrative of resilience and transformation.

Combining theoretical analysis with practical applications, the study offers fresh insights into architectural preservation and innovation, challenging traditional approaches while celebrating the dynamic interplay between history and imagination.