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Interview

Dialogues: Architecture Is Fun

About

This interview with architects Peter and Sharon Exley is part of MAS Context Dialogues, a series of conversations with Chicago-based designers hosted by Stephen Killion.

Contributors

Peter and Sharon Exley are not interested in designing by the books. Instead, they have always made it a point to push the boundaries of architectural design, by first focusing on understanding the needs of the user and client. Through extensive research, they are able to determine the unique goals of each project and find ways to execute whimsical design solutions.

Their extensive portfolio of work, particularly the projects focused on engaging children, have a level of intelligence and commitment to the end user that is not always seen in projects. At the end of the day Peter and Sharon want to create work that encourages engagement opportunities for their users with the hope that no matter the age they can facilitate spaces that intrigue and convey a sense of wonderment.

Interview published in July, 2017.

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DuPage Children’s Museum Renovation, Naperville, Illinois, 2015. © Doug Snower Photography. Courtesy of Architecture is Fun.

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DuPage Children’s Museum Renovation, Naperville, Illinois, 2015. © Doug Snower Photography. Courtesy of Architecture is Fun.

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The Latin School of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 2012. © Doug Snower Photography. Courtesy of Architecture is Fun.

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The Latin School of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 2012. © Doug Snower Photography. Courtesy of Architecture is Fun.

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Ronald McDonald House, Oak Lawn, Illinois, 2008. © Doug Snower Photography. Courtesy of Architecture is Fun.

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St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum, St. Augustine, Florida, 2016. © Matt Wargo Photography. Courtesy of Architecture is Fun.

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St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum, St. Augustine, Florida, 2016. © Matt Wargo Photography. Courtesy of Architecture is Fun.

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Young At Art Museum, Davie, Florida, 2012. © Doug Snower Photography. Courtesy of Architecture is Fun.

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Young At Art Museum, Davie, Florida, 2012. © Doug Snower Photography. Courtesy of Architecture is Fun.

Intro Song

“Strella, Sing a Singsong to the Moon” by Studio Noir is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License.

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Contributor Bios

Contributor

Bio

Contact

Architecture Is Fun

Architecture Is Fun creates architecture through the collaborative exploration of new paradigms of play and participatory experience. In 1994, following traditional paths in the architecture and design professions, and with a young child in tow, Sharon and Peter Exley noted a lack of advocacy for interactive, play-based, and entertainment-centric architecture. Presented with a hands-on assignment at the prestigious Chicago Children’s Museum, they elected to devote their professional practice to designing substantive play environments for adults and children. Mindful to learn from both informal and formal places and architectural precedents, they elevate the standards of design for experiential environments.

Stephen Killion

Formally trained as an architect, Stephen Killion uses his parallel understanding in both the architectural and graphic design discipline to advance an ongoing curiosity in how users inhabit, interact and understand the built environment through design. In addition to his award winning multidisciplinary design background, he has showcased and highlighted notable projects by acting as a contributing writer/editor for Mark Magazine, Architizer and Design Bureau.