CHICAGO | Boom rundown - everything over 12 floors. v5

[honte]

Originally Posted by AdrianXSands

after all... this is the mid-west... though it's easy to forget that sometimes...

Give me a break. This building is radical, and it's bound to get some complaints anywhere it goes in this country.

My two cents: When you really look at the design, it fits into the Hyde Park tradition quite well. Unfortunately, most Hyde Parkers don't know much about this tradition.

Also, I doubt highly that it will actually be that color or so jarring. Gang did not do herself any favors in making the rendering look so unnatural, unless of course that's really what they're after.

[wrab]

Originally Posted by AdrianXSands

oh yeah? trapewhatal? this building is AMAZING. though i'm not surprised it's getting the negative reception... after all... this is the mid-west... though it's easy to forget that sometimes...

anyone who see this as 'crap' has no concept of good design and doesn't understand architecture. perhaps it goes over their heads? sorry.

I suppose it all depends on what definition of "Midwest" one uses, but historically the true midwest (OH, MI, IN, IL, WI, MN) has been quite receptive to new & challenging ideas in design & construction. Though one wouldn't necessarily know it to look around River North these days

People will like this project more once Studio/Gang has given its dog & pony show to HP & they understand better how some of the unusual design elements work. But I'd expect the usual mantra of height, shadow & traffic to cause more complaints than anything else.

[Nowhereman1280]

Originally Posted by AdrianXSands

oh yeah? trapewhatal? this building is AMAZING. though i'm not surprised it's getting the negative reception... after all... this is the mid-west... though it's easy to forget that sometimes...

anyone who see this as 'crap' has no concept of good design and doesn't understand architecture. perhaps it goes over their heads? sorry.

Adrian, this isn't decidedly good architecture, look at how its set back from the road? Do you really think Traffic circles in front of buildings are good design and good architecture, I sure hope not. Also, look at the blank (probably concrete) face it presents to the road where it does front it, absolutely nothing there, I guess you must think that "good design" includes putting blank walls against sidewalks. This design isn't perfect and I can see where their criticism is coming from, it has some major failings. It is a completely legitimate comment to make that this building's street interface is not so cutting edge as the rest of the building and that it is indeed a step backward to the 70's.

Your comment about this being the Midwest is two things:
A. Sounds like something out of ridiculous, elitist, moronic, article in the New Yorker
B. is completely ignorant of Architectural history and the fact that the Midwest has been kicking the Coast's asses when it comes to revolutionizing Architecture for at least 100 years...

That said, I think this is another striking design by Gang. Assuming good execution both this and Aqua will be stunning when they are completed. As I already said, I only have a beef with the way it interacts with the street level, whoever said it was reminiscent of the buildings on N. Sheridan Road was dead on, that's exactly how those meet the street.

[aaron38]

Originally Posted by AdrianXSands

anyone who see this as 'crap' has no concept of good design and doesn't understand architecture. perhaps it goes over their heads? sorry.

It's definitely not crap, but it's no homerun either. I wish I was an artist who could render up what I see in my head.

If the building was bent in half and shoved up to the corner, given first floor retail, and two side buildings added to cover up the horrible painted concrete walls and form a streetwall, it would be amazing.

As it stands in it's 'tower in the park' setting, it's a missed oportunity, and interesting windows doesn't fix that.

Edit: What Nowhereman said.

[honte]

You guys crack me up. So, there is no possibility ever that any good building in any situation could be built off the sidewalk or with a driveway? Marina City has obviously made an impact on Studio Gang, and it's once again the perfect example of this kind of planning.

This building is in a residential neighborhood, across from a park, and I can't see anything wrong with giving it a "front yard."

As for the side walls of concrete, they are my favorite part of the proposal- probably the most honest expression of advanced structural concepts in any Chicago high-rise I've seen in quite a while. If they pay attention to the quality of the concrete work, I think they will be quite beautiful.

[the urban politician]

Originally Posted by honte

You guys crack me up. So, there is no possibility ever that any good building in any situation could be built off the sidewalk or with a driveway? Marina City has obviously made an impact on Studio Gang, and it's once again the perfect example of this kind of planning.

This building is in a residential neighborhood, across from a park, and I can't see anything wrong with giving it a "front yard."

As for the side walls of concrete, they are my favorite part of the proposal- probably the most honest expression of advanced structural concepts in any Chicago high-rise I've seen in quite a while. If they pay attention to the quality of the concrete work, I think they will be quite beautiful.

^ Thank you! I am frankly surpised that so many people made a big issue of this building's setback. I see nothing wrong with a circular driveway in front of a highrise in an otherwise residential neighborhood full of NIMBY's (who probably would have demanded a setback anyhow). This isn't the Loop.

I also agree that the colors in real life probably won't be as dramatic as they are in the rendering, but I hope that there still are colors, because they seem to contribute to this building's effect

[VivaLFuego]

Originally Posted by honte

You guys crack me up. So, there is no possibility ever that any good building in any situation could be built off the sidewalk or with a driveway? Marina City has obviously made an impact on Studio Gang, and it's once again the perfect example of this kind of planning.

This building is in a residential neighborhood, across from a park, and I can't see anything wrong with giving it a "front yard."

As for the side walls of concrete, they are my favorite part of the proposal- probably the most honest expression of advanced structural concepts in any Chicago high-rise I've seen in quite a while. If they pay attention to the quality of the concrete work, I think they will be quite beautiful.

...amen. Though I admit the driveway renderings give me some pause because they just look plain weird to me, I'm optimistic a site plan would put me at ease.

And having spent several years of my youth literally a block from this site, I can say the lack of retail is not a problem. There is an almost-vibrant-but-slightly-struggling retail stretch (which includes restaurants and convenience stores) just steps north of here on 55th Street, there's no reason to draw any retail away from it. Perhaps a dry cleaners is warranted, but that may be part of the building anyway.

[VivaLFuego]

There is a soil-boring rig on the 505 N. Clark site (a surface parking lot). I seem to remember a while ago, there was talk of a hotel for this site, but haven't heard much since. Anyone? Does this constitute site prep?

[Alliance]

The Architecture of Windemere West or whatever its called now is fantastic...the urban planning...not so much. However, those mirrors might be there to bounce light into the downslanted windows.

[aaron38]

Originally Posted by honte

So, there is no possibility ever that any good building in any situation could be built off the sidewalk or with a driveway?

Well I wouldn't say that. I just really like streetwalls.

[Jaroslaw]

Looks like the E side of The Wit will be a blank wall. Like with the Dana hotel on State.

[Nowhereman1280]

Just for the record, I never said that I don't like setback buildings or that Gangs building is bad because of that, I was just pointing out that there are logical, just arguments against the design.

Like I said, I quite like it, I think the street level could be a little better, but I like it. What I don't like about the driveway thing is that it encourages car use and the idea that we need some portal for our vehicles as the main entrance to our building, it reminds me of those low budget cookie cutter hotels that always have those beefy driveways and carport things and it always feels really awkward to walk in and out because there is so much pavement and concrete and no real sidewalks to speak of.

This design isn't perfect from what I can see now, maybe I'll change my mind when I see a site plan or further renders, but right now I am wary of the layout.

[Nowhereman1280]

Originally Posted by Jaroslaw

Looks like the E side of The Wit will be a blank wall. Like with the Dana hotel on State.

^^^ Doesn't that face an alley/other buildings?

[honte]

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

Just for the record, I never said that I don't like setback buildings or that Gangs building is bad because of that, I was just pointing out that there are logical, just arguments against the design.

Like I said, I quite like it, I think the street level could be a little better, but I like it. What I don't like about the driveway thing is that it encourages car use and the idea that we need some portal for our vehicles as the main entrance to our building, it reminds me of those low budget cookie cutter hotels that always have those beefy driveways and carport things and it always feels really awkward to walk in and out because there is so much pavement and concrete and no real sidewalks to speak of.

This design isn't perfect from what I can see now, maybe I'll change my mind when I see a site plan or further renders, but right now I am wary of the layout.

OK. I see where you are coming from.

I am guessing the driveway was modeled in part on grand old Hyde Park apartment buildings with portes cochères in the front, such as Windemere itself.

[10023]

Originally Posted by Alliance

^^^ I find the arrangement of thost buildings awkward.

Why buildin one and then completely obscure it.

You mean Streeter I and II? Aren't they pretty much twin towers with a drive between them? What's unusual about that?

Or are you referring to the construction right next to the green glass tower that will probably block its windows?

[10023]

Originally Posted by Alliance

I never really thought it would be that great. It just would have made more sense to for the east tower to run N-S and the more westerly one E-W.

But having the east tower run E-W and the west tower run N-S, you allow a view corridor from the west tower to the lake.

[Tom In Chicago]

After reading many of these posts my head hurts. . . can we please keep it civil and somewhat objective in our comments??? I - as well as most people on these boards - don't have a problem with your subjective opinions as long as they aren't venomous in nature. . . trolls will not be tolerated and their comments will swiftly be deleted. . . so please refrain from returning comments to said trolls or I'll delete your retorts as well. . .

Thank you for your understanding. . .

[Steely Dan]

^ thank you tom. it's nice to have another ally in the eternal fight against the childish stupidity, name-calling, and off-topic trolling that seems to be infesting many of the chicago-related discussions these days. remember, it not just what you say, it's also about how you say it. in general i don't like to suppress the expression of opinions, but if you're gonna express them in the most obnoxious, immature, and idiotic of fashions, then yeah, we're gonna take steps to expunge your BS from this forum.

shape-up or ship out folks.



to the vast majority of good, productive, civil forumers for whom this message does not apply, please carry-on............

[Alliance]

Originally Posted by 10023

You mean Streeter I and II? Aren't they pretty much twin towers with a drive between them? What's unusual about that?

Or are you referring to the construction right next to the green glass tower that will probably block its windows?

I'm talking about Streeter I and II. More often than not, buildings in Chicago have their long axis oriented E-W so they appear thinner from the lake. JHC, Watertower Place, Trump, Pru1, 340OMP, Hyatt Center, Chase Tower, all come to mind (CNA, "111 Monroe," and that hideous behemoth behind JHC as notable exceptions) Streeter I is oriented in this fashion, but Streeter II is not. The orientation this way gives more people more views (for the time being). The I think the development would have been better if their places were switched.

[i_am_hydrogen]

It looks as though installation of the black panels has begun on Millennium Park Plaza's western facade.