Ladders and Ladders
A proposal for the Chicago Architecture Biennial, 2015
Our proposal for the Chicago Biennial Kiosk Design competition leverages Chicago's iconic verticality to create a vertical grid kiosk-tower structure overlooking Lake Michigan. The grid of our kiosk interprets the ancient Indian game of "chutes and ladders" in three-dimensional form. In this game, players move through a board featuring symbolic images representing virtues and vices. Ladders symbolize positive traits like generosity and faith, while chutes represent negative behaviors like anger and theft. Traditionally, the game teaches that good deeds lead to spiritual liberation, while evil deeds result in lower forms of rebirth. In the original version, the number of ladders was less than that of chutes, reminding players that the path of good is much more difficult to tread than the path of sin. Reaching the last square represented the attainment of Moksha (spiritual liberation from desire). The dice are fatalistic, requiring players to accept the destiny set out for them. In our version, we empowered the players by removing the element of fate determined by dice. Instead, players actively choose which ladders to climb and which to descend, making it a game of “ladders and ladders.” The journey through the kiosk features dead ends and spaces to rest and meditate, listen to and observe birds, flirt, climb, and play, ensuring an engaging and interactive experience.
The grid in our design not only interprets the traditional checkerboard design of “chutes and ladders” in 3D but also references the city's gridiron pattern and Ludwig Hilberseimer's grid proposal for Marquette Park. We envision the kiosk as a versatile space capable of hosting a wide range of activities during the Biennial. Its adaptable design allows for the temporary showcasing of works like the TV video pieces from Nam June Paik's archive at the Smart Museum of Art (University of Chicago). The kiosk's flexibility opens up a world of possibilities, offering users novel and interactive experiences.