CHICAGO | Obama Presidential Library

[Cress3803]

Stone I think I like, although it's much better up close. Kind of looks like unfinished concrete from farther away

[aaron38]

Is it just me, but the way the swirl patters in the stone interact is really haphazard and chaotic. Is that intentional?

[kemachs]

Originally Posted by sentinel

This reads dark and somewhat more ominous

IMO, that description feels very "Chicago"...so even though I may agree on the aesthetic critique, I appreciate the boldness and the vibe.

[sentinel]

Originally Posted by aaron38

Is it just me, but the way the swirl patters in the stone interact is really haphazard and chaotic. Is that intentional?

It’s a natural feature of that type of stone, not because it was manufactured that way. But I do agree that it appears very busy and lacking any material consistency, just by virtue of the stone that was selected.

[ardecila]

Nobody's taking pictures of it due to the tall construction fencing, but the stone on the podium appears a lot more muted than the tower.

[bhawk66]

Someone's gotta get in there!! This a job for Solarman. Send up the Bat signal!

[munchymunch]

If you can't see over the fence, go over it...

https://youtu.be/uuHCQN2LL3g

This is the best project in the city imo; it's a beautiful addition to Jackson Park.

[cloudbod]

^ beautiful footage!!!

[bhawk66]

Good stuff, MunchyMunch. Really nice intro. Caught her on a sunny day, no less. Very curious to see how the upper half wraps up.

[cloudbod]

https://youtu.be/uuHCQN2LL3g?si=bsr0tWJXwqAcaPeQ&t=239

[twister244]

Damn! Very nice!!!!

[Busy Bee]

Major Breuer's Whitney vibes.

[cloudbod]

Yeah it's dope stonework. I feel like I understand the stained glass art piece a bit more now-- at first I was like "why it is just a haphazard mess of dense lines" but seeing it in context, surrounded by all that granite, it looks like a direct continuation of the stone's veining! Pretty neat

[sentinel]

***FRIENDLY MOD REMINDER: Please no political trolling of any kind. This thread is about the OBAMA Center, no one else.

[sentinel]

Originally Posted by cloudbod

Yeah it's dope stonework. I feel like I understand the stained glass art piece a bit more now-- at first I was like "why it is just a haphazard mess of dense lines" but seeing it in context, surrounded by all that granite, it looks like a direct continuation of the stone's veining! Pretty neat

It looks nice…but if someone showed me this image out of context, I would have guessed it was a 60s-era mausoleum or crematorium.

The more I see of the finished product, the more disappointed I am in the overall project. There is no delight nor discernible understanding of the function from the design. I may have different feelings once it’s complete, and I’m still grateful that this is located in Chicago AND will act as a springboard for other development in the immediate area. The craftsmanship of the built form, based on the design details is second to none; the architecture firm excels in designing buildings of the highest quality. But it just leaves me feeling so cold. Like an alien artifact landed in the park without any reason.

[Busy Bee]

So when Trump does inevitably mock this on or around the center's opening, can the news article be posted here or will that be considered "political trolling" and deleted? Askin for a friend.

[sentinel]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

So when Trump does inevitably mock this on or around the center's opening, can the news article be posted here or will that be considered "political trolling" and deleted? Askin for a friend.

Yes!! Why is this so hard to understand??! Do that elsewhere, Good Lord. His addled brain can do whatever it wants, it will be reported God knows everywhere online..why add any of that nonsense here, its not necessary and dilutes from this discussion.
Focus on the Obama Presidential thread, please! If you have any issues with this, you can send me a private message.

[nomarandlee]

Originally Posted by sentinel

It looks nice…but if someone showed me this image out of context, I would have guessed it was a 60s-era mausoleum or crematorium.

The more I see of the finished product, the more disappointed I am in the overall project. There is no delight nor discernible understanding of the function from the design. I may have different feelings once it’s complete, and I’m still grateful that this is located in Chicago AND will act as a springboard for other development in the immediate area. The craftsmanship of the built form, based on the design details is second to none; the architecture firm excels in designing buildings of the highest quality. But it just leaves me feeling so cold. Like an alien artifact landed in the park without any reason.

Can't help but agree with most all here.

Partly, I'm just not a fan of marble, which is just a personal taste. It transmits dour, ostentatious, and self-reverential vibes.

More important is the relatively low window-to-mass ratio. While the stained glass looks beautiful, it completely limits what could otherwise be splendid views from within and outside of the north side of the building if clear glass had been used instead.

[Jstange059]

Originally Posted by sentinel

It looks nice…but if someone showed me this image out of context, I would have guessed it was a 60s-era mausoleum or crematorium.

The more I see of the finished product, the more disappointed I am in the overall project. There is no delight nor discernible understanding of the function from the design. I may have different feelings once it’s complete, and I’m still grateful that this is located in Chicago AND will act as a springboard for other development in the immediate area. The craftsmanship of the built form, based on the design details is second to none; the architecture firm excels in designing buildings of the highest quality. But it just leaves me feeling so cold. Like an alien artifact landed in the park without any reason.

While I understand where you're coming from, I think I like it for the reasons that you don't like it. It has an impressive monolithic appearance, who's geometry of the structure in a strange way appears natural. I admit that their choice of stone has grown on me, though I still would have chosen a more sandstone-colored stone with less veins. I expect over time that this structure will become an icon of this area of the Hyde Park/Woodlawn/Jackson Park area, just like how The Bean has really become an icon of the city. Both structures which sort of appear to have fallen from space on to the city, with strange monumental appearances

[aaron38]

Deleted