Zach Mortice
@zachmortice.bsky.social
Chicago design journalist and critic, @bloomberg.com and elsewhere. In one of those phases where I can’t decide whether it matters what buildings look like or not.
https://zachmortice.com
https://zachmortice.com
Read this with my book club and loved it www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/b...
Hard Times (Published 2009)
www.nytimes.com
January 12, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Read this with my book club and loved it www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/b...
Reposted by Zach Mortice
protect and reinforce our supply lines
Somali aunties were giving out samosas to the anti ICE protesters in Minneapolis.
January 12, 2026 at 3:11 AM
protect and reinforce our supply lines
Reposted by Zach Mortice
‘Dueling Banjos’
A silly thing I painted 11 years ago and apparently haven’t posted here before
A silly thing I painted 11 years ago and apparently haven’t posted here before
January 12, 2026 at 3:49 PM
‘Dueling Banjos’
A silly thing I painted 11 years ago and apparently haven’t posted here before
A silly thing I painted 11 years ago and apparently haven’t posted here before
Reposted by Zach Mortice
British colonial ideals were basically no different, just romanticised with the patina of history. It's always been about capital, narrowing culture, channeling to the homeland, theft & control.
There honestly cannot be a satire cutting enough to make fun of Americans. What the fuck do you mean the highest colonial ideal you could imagine was a parking lot with McDonald's on both sides
January 9, 2026 at 11:58 AM
British colonial ideals were basically no different, just romanticised with the patina of history. It's always been about capital, narrowing culture, channeling to the homeland, theft & control.
Reposted by Zach Mortice
For me, this is the architectural equivalent of screaming “play Freebird!!!!” in 1993
January 8, 2026 at 8:46 PM
For me, this is the architectural equivalent of screaming “play Freebird!!!!” in 1993
MILCP (Man I Love Conversation Pits)
January 8, 2026 at 8:43 PM
MILCP (Man I Love Conversation Pits)
When ur rolling deep with the homies
January 8, 2026 at 8:40 PM
When ur rolling deep with the homies
Honest q: could we have just stopped at learning how seeds work?
January 8, 2026 at 8:39 PM
Honest q: could we have just stopped at learning how seeds work?
The Industrial Revolution was a mistake
One of the top replies under an image on X of Renee Good's body slumped over in her car after an ICE agent shot her is another user asking Grok to put her body in a bikini. Grok then generated the image.
January 8, 2026 at 8:39 PM
The Industrial Revolution was a mistake
Reposted by Zach Mortice
Reposted by Zach Mortice
"you can't kill us all" fuck yeah minneapolis
ICE agents stopped by protesters after the shooting an observer in Minneapolis, according to witnesse. ICE deployed pepper spray and tear gas.
January 7, 2026 at 5:16 PM
"you can't kill us all" fuck yeah minneapolis
With the new year, I've lived in Chicago longer than I've lived anywhere else, and I just wanna let everyone know I understand what an incredible privilege that's been. 🙏
January 7, 2026 at 4:39 PM
With the new year, I've lived in Chicago longer than I've lived anywhere else, and I just wanna let everyone know I understand what an incredible privilege that's been. 🙏
I am absolutely losing it at this promo for a Jordan Peterson masterclass on how to be married. Bruh, I wanna hear from the sock puppet, not you!
January 7, 2026 at 2:38 PM
I am absolutely losing it at this promo for a Jordan Peterson masterclass on how to be married. Bruh, I wanna hear from the sock puppet, not you!
Reposted by Zach Mortice
For @bloomberg.com I looked at different ways builders are using technology and design to build faster and more resilient as part of the recovery from LA’s destructive wildfires www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
New LA Home Designs, Reimagined By Fire
As rebuilding begins in Pacific Palisades and Altadena, builders are showcasing resilient architecture and construction techniques aimed at outwitting future disaster.
www.bloomberg.com
January 7, 2026 at 2:29 PM
For @bloomberg.com I looked at different ways builders are using technology and design to build faster and more resilient as part of the recovery from LA’s destructive wildfires www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
Reposted by Zach Mortice
I've received many messages about this over the last two weeks — people still read, reference, and link to these stories WRITTEN BY REAL REPORTERS who knew their cities better than anyone else. I figured a fix might have been delayed due to holiday breaks but this needs to be remedied immediately!
The archives for the old Curbed city sites have been offline for at least two weeks. If these sites are gone for good, it’s not just a loss for those who contributed to Curbed over the years, but a loss of ~15 years of reporting on new development, neighborhoods, and architecture criticism.
January 5, 2026 at 5:43 PM
I've received many messages about this over the last two weeks — people still read, reference, and link to these stories WRITTEN BY REAL REPORTERS who knew their cities better than anyone else. I figured a fix might have been delayed due to holiday breaks but this needs to be remedied immediately!
Reposted by Zach Mortice
I noticed this too and I realllllly hope it is temporary @curbed.com @nymag.com because there is nothing else like it and it is half of my archive 😭
The archives for the old Curbed city sites have been offline for at least two weeks. If these sites are gone for good, it’s not just a loss for those who contributed to Curbed over the years, but a loss of ~15 years of reporting on new development, neighborhoods, and architecture criticism.
January 5, 2026 at 3:37 PM
I noticed this too and I realllllly hope it is temporary @curbed.com @nymag.com because there is nothing else like it and it is half of my archive 😭
Yeah. That actually seems way more depressing than the spooky story i was telling!
January 6, 2026 at 3:14 AM
Yeah. That actually seems way more depressing than the spooky story i was telling!
Reposted by Zach Mortice
Hey, all - NYRA is a great way to spend approx $25/year. Their Los Angeles Review of Architecture issues are top-tier, as well.
We're too political for ads, so help us spread the news:
Subscriptions to NYRA are only $24.96 a year today!!!
nyra.nyc/subscribe/2025
Subscriptions to NYRA are only $24.96 a year today!!!
nyra.nyc/subscribe/2025
December 31, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Hey, all - NYRA is a great way to spend approx $25/year. Their Los Angeles Review of Architecture issues are top-tier, as well.
Congrats!!! Great deal for all involved!
January 5, 2026 at 9:17 PM
Congrats!!! Great deal for all involved!
Reposted by Zach Mortice
You can do things
Today in the New York Times:
"One year after the start of congestion pricing, traffic jams are less severe, streets are safer, and commute times are improving for travelers from well beyond Manhattan."
"One year after the start of congestion pricing, traffic jams are less severe, streets are safer, and commute times are improving for travelers from well beyond Manhattan."
January 5, 2026 at 4:44 PM
You can do things
Reposted by Zach Mortice
amazing how the entire machine can pivot within 24 hours. no need to slowly upsell the argument; just issue new marching orders
January 5, 2026 at 6:50 AM
amazing how the entire machine can pivot within 24 hours. no need to slowly upsell the argument; just issue new marching orders
Reposted by Zach Mortice
Truly invaluable chronicle of architecture, design and development in major US cities; what say you @nymag.com
The archives for the old Curbed city sites have been offline for at least two weeks. If these sites are gone for good, it’s not just a loss for those who contributed to Curbed over the years, but a loss of ~15 years of reporting on new development, neighborhoods, and architecture criticism.
January 5, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Truly invaluable chronicle of architecture, design and development in major US cities; what say you @nymag.com
Youn can still read the piece on my website. @curbed.com, what happened with the archives? zachmortice.com/2016/10/05/p...
January 5, 2026 at 4:41 PM
Youn can still read the piece on my website. @curbed.com, what happened with the archives? zachmortice.com/2016/10/05/p...
I suspect the bosses didn’t want quipy blog posts about Detroit community gardens polluting their fancy NYC brand, and simply just torched everything that was not NYC instead of sorting through the tons of incredible reporting and commentary. Very stupid, if true
January 5, 2026 at 4:37 PM
I suspect the bosses didn’t want quipy blog posts about Detroit community gardens polluting their fancy NYC brand, and simply just torched everything that was not NYC instead of sorting through the tons of incredible reporting and commentary. Very stupid, if true