Design Edition

Bruce Goff Proved that Maximalist Architecture Belongs to Common People, Too

A survey at the Art Institute of Chicago finds a working-class maximalism in Bruce Goff’s architecture.
The Ruth and Sam Ford House in Aurora, Illinois, showcases Bruce Goff’s Route 66 spirit.Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago

Hello and welcome to Bloomberg’s weekly design digest. I’m Kriston Capps, staff writer and editor for Bloomberg CityLab and your guide to the world of architecture and the people who build things.

This week Níall McLaughlin received the 2026 Royal Institute of British Architects’ Royal Gold Medal, the UK’s top architecture prize. Sign up to keep up: Subscribe to get the Design Edition newsletter every Sunday.