Dwayne MacEwen. PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBIN SUBAR
Dwayne MacEwen is the founder, principal, and creative force behind Evanston-based DMAC Architecture. The award-winning firm extends the traditional scope of architecture design, embracing a philosophy that architecture contains arts, and is not just a container for the arts. Here is how MacEwen stays on trend.
ON HIS MOBILE
“I’ve been checking in on Architizer lately, a networking website for professionals in the industry. The site publishes fantastic tools and articles that keep readers up to date on some of the most amazing projects in the world and is a great source of inspiration. The platform highlights a collection of extremely well-designed projects and a wide range of projects worldwide that move beyond typical design. I love reading about design solutions to problems, like how warming huts for outdoor rinks are used in British Columbia. One recent blog post I very much enjoyed was one on Jean Nouvel, a French architect I’m hugely inspired by who continually reinvents himself.”
IN HIS EARBUDS
“Following his passing, I’ve been listening to quite a lot of Leonard Cohen. He’s a fellow Canadian, which is always special for me. Most importantly, his music is timeless, just like architecture should always strive to be, the same way that Leonard Cohen’s music is always relevant. I’ve always been inspired by his thoughtful lyrics, and the fact that his music is very spatial, not gratuitous. It takes me back to my days in architecture school, working in the studio until 3 a.m..”
ON HIS BOOKSHELF
“I loved Roland Lazenby’s Michael Jordan: The Life, which shares not only the sports story behind Michael Jordan, but uncovers the stories about the basketball star not everyone knows. DMAC is designing the new Michael Jordan’s Steak House in Oak Brook, and this book provided fantastic inspiration for the project. I learned so many facts and stories from his life, all of which are nuances that we’re taking into the design. For instance, we’re clipping the tables and creatively numbering them based on the jersey numbers Jordan wore during his professional career.”
