^^^

:slob: :slob: :slob:

For the time being this building has moved into my top slot for all buildings UC or proposed in Chicago! Even higher than the spire, though I'm sure I'll shit myself when I see the spire from this angle some day.

Its even up there nipping at the heels of my favorite buildings like JHC and Sofitel and Inland Steel and its not even done yet!

The margin of error with the concrete forms is (thankfully) much smaller than I had anticipated.

...are they going to paint the concrete or just leave it exposed ?

Photo Set #1
 

Photo's taken by EarlyBuyer 2/9/08

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/45/dscn9382wc3.jpg


http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/1416/dscn9385pq1.jpg


http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/191/dscn9390qv4.jpg


http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/6202/dscn9392wc0.jpg


http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/4734/dscn9397lv1.jpg


http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/1900/dscn9402um1.jpg

Photo Set #2
 

Photo's taken by EarlyBuyer 2/9/08


http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/2662/dscn9414xf8.jpg


http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/8600/dscn9416em1.jpg


http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/8864/dscn9429yz1.jpg


http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/3402/dscn9369zh9.jpg


http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/4756/dscn9373ez5.jpg


http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/503/dscn9376qk8.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y15...dier/paddy.jpg
www.mekong-travel.com

...is the construction site to the right of Aqua part of the Aqua site ?

jjk1103: Yes it is, the site is huge.

In reply to Cbotnyse's shots, the view up the side is already becomming hypnotic. By the time it's 800', you'll be able to achieve transcendance just looking up at it.

:iagree:

^^^ Me too.

When this is done, I'm going to lay down on the sidewalk for hours and just stare up at it...

^I've started calling this "Bean effect" architecture.

Just as people like to see themselves in Kapoor's bean, creating their own "composition" by photographing themselves in a distorted version of the city that is to their own liking, I can see people coming to this building and composing themselves within it.

I'm not ready to pronounce this as a new movement in art, but I think it's an interesting comparison, and I've been thinking about it a lot. Both works are rather serious expressions of Modernism (or, much closer to Modernism than Classicism), and yet, they offer Mr. Joe Public (no offense to anyone) the ability to pick out something smaller than the overall composition, finding something personal to like.

In many ways, this addresses the complaint often voiced against Modernism, that it is too "plain" or "boring." In this case, the works function as traditional objects, but also as interactive elements when approached at a human scale.

nice honte :)

They are going to paint it. There's a picture a few pages back.

I must admit, my opinion of this one has come around quite a bit. I wasn't necessarily sure about how this would turn out, and I'm still not, but the more floors that are poured, and the more the 'effect' has become apparent, I've began to appreciate what Jeanne Gang was getting at.

That's apart of the Swissotel expansion that being built in conjunction with Aqua.

Chicago's Penthouse Paradises

http://www.lakeshoreeast.com/media/a...02-01-2008.pdf

Very Kewl...

I want to live there...

:yes:

Taken today:

it will be interesting to see how the corner columns covered by the backed glass add a sense of rigidity to an overall fluid-looking structure. between the green glass, white painted concrete and black frames, this looks like it's going to turn out pretty damn well. fingers crossed...

god that glass looks SO good!



people in the know: what type of mullions are they using?

I was thinking the same thing. At first, I was thinking that the opaque sections of the glass that cover up the columns would help pull one's gaze upward, but the uniqueness of the individual balconies will do that already as the organic pattern of the "waves" will make the viewer want to follow the motion all the way to the top. So I kind of agree that these sections will add some definite visual rigidity which could either enhance the whole form with some visual contrast or conflict with the fluidity and detract from the experience. Either way, time will tell...

Feb 13 - AM
 

http://lh3.google.com/harry.r.carmic...JPG?imgmax=800

http://lh3.google.com/harry.r.carmic...JPG?imgmax=800

^^^ Starting to look good from a distance now, love the razor sharp lines provided by the grey balconies contrasted by the green glass. This is why the paint will actually add something to this building.

those are some impressie shots 'earlybuyer'... thanx for sharing...
im not very sure about the glass, maybe i have to see more of it as it grows...

That area has gotten so awesomely developed. Got to love it. It will just get better as the years go on! Does anybody know how much an apartment in Aqua is going to cost, like the cheapest one? I am sure it is out of my budget but I was just wondering, thanks!

^ They've all but sold out already. But have a look here, for starters: http://www.lakeshoreeast.com/aqua.html

02/13/08
https://community.emporis.com/images.../02/593329.jpg

https://community.emporis.com/images.../02/593330.jpg

I think from a distance, Aqua is very unassuming. Its like stealth architecure.

Sharp pictures Harry!!! Your first picture shows how dense that area is and how much more the area will be built up in the future.:cheers:

I agree... so far. It's not 800+' tall yet either though.

Yeah and the balconies are going to become a lot more pronounced.

Feb 15 - AM
 

http://lh5.google.com/harry.r.carmic...JPG?imgmax=640

http://lh6.google.com/harry.r.carmic...JPG?imgmax=800

http://lh6.google.com/harry.r.carmic...JPG?imgmax=800

http://lh4.google.com/harry.r.carmic...JPG?imgmax=800

February 15

I was pretty unimpressed with the glass from about Randolph Street, it looked better as I got closer and looks great in the photos. But when I saw it in person for the first time it got me to question how good this project will look when it's finished, and that's pretty concerning to me, because from this board I've been a thrugh and through fan of the project.

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/8017/aqua1tk9.jpg
http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/5057/aqua2dr2.jpg

Are you saying you think it will look good, or that you think it won't look good?

Nice shots harryc and CGII.

Thanks for posting.

Looking up this building when finished will be absolutely mesmerizing! I think it looks pretty sweet and very smooth at this point. It looks like a piece of intricately carved pottery.

Neither. I don't know. It looks great up close and in photos, but from further away it was pretty iffy. I have a feeling I'll be on the fence until this sucker is finished or topped out.

but aren't the details what matter? imo, who really cares what it looks like from afar. if you sweat the details, everything else will follow, right? :shrug:

Taken today:

The only reason it looks great up close is because of the depth the balconies bring. From a distance the balconies really just dissapear, making it resemble a boring, green box. At least, thus far.

nice photo! and WHOA! a lot needs to be said about the crew working so amazingly on top of shit in the dead of winter.

i think you missed my point

I assure you, I did not. The detail is fine, but in this case, the detail only benefits the view from up close, at least this far in progress to my limited viewpoint. My point is, since the detail is the balconies, Aqua might just look like an uninspired, green box with cheap glass from just a few blocks away.

Forgot this one:

I would have to agree with CGII, it does look like a boring terd from a distance thus far, but everyone on these forums seems to judge buildings before they are even 1/14 of the way done. A building will almost always look like crap, well not always but a lot will before they are TO and done. I personally thing that it will look pretty good when its done, maybe not as good as the renderings, but what building does look as good as its renderings?

Lots, but that's not important.


I'm lowering my standards with this tower so I won't be dissapointed. Now I'm expecting a fairly traditional, predictable condo-scraper style with a unique design element instead of a world masterpiece of architecture in condo-scraper form.

...oh my god... :koko:
you know there's more to a building than what it looks like in the skyline.
also, what's wrong with boxes? it's a building. is jeanne gang too boring because her tower doesn't zig-zag or have shiny mullions or have fins or what?

also... there's more to this building than just some neat balconies... :sly:

Listen, I don't care what you say. That's my opinion, you telling me I'm completely wrong isn't going to change it.