CHICAGO | Aqua | 858 FT / 262 M | 87 FLOORS

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^



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 — 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!

[JV_325i]

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

[jjk1103]

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

[EarlyBuyer]

Photo's taken by EarlyBuyer 2/9/08

[EarlyBuyer]

Photo's taken by EarlyBuyer 2/9/08

[wrab]

Originally Posted by cbotnyse

This building is really going to be good.

www.mekong-travel.com

[jjk1103]

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

[EarlyBuyer]

Originally Posted by jjk1103

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

jjk1103: Yes it is, the site is huge.

[aaron38]

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.

[EarlyBuyer]

Originally Posted by aaron38

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.

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ Me too.

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

[honte]

^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.

[Tom Servo]

Originally Posted by honte

^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

[Knightwing]

Originally Posted by jjk1103

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

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

[Knightwing]

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.

[BVictor1]

Originally Posted by jjk1103

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

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

[EarlyBuyer]

Chicago's Penthouse Paradises

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

[Complex01]

Very Kewl...

I want to live there...

[i_am_hydrogen]

Taken today:

[dropdeaded209]

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...