I have been wondering about gender and urban built environments recently.  Cities are often described as male spaces. While there are the obvious arguments (tall buildings represent phallic symbols of power, sports stadiums serve male pastime, streets are public spaces, the domain of women is domestic space etc pp.) Although expressed rather simplistically, these arguments are interesting but not much inspiring. The question remains, what aesthetic characteristics would a gender equal city have, what will it look like? Maybe Aqua—a new, eighty-two-story apartment tower in the center of Chicago designed by Jeanne Gang – is the answer.

http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/skyline/2010/02/01/100201crsk_skyline_goldberger