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

[the urban politician]

^ My only concern is that such an interesting architectural statement won't be very visible. It's going to be obscured behind a lot of other buildings

[trvlr70]

Originally Posted by the urban politician

^ My only concern is that such an interesting architectural statement won't be very visible. It's going to be obscured behind a lot of other buildings

But it will always be visible from the Harbor Park in LSE.

[the urban politician]

Originally Posted by trvlr70

But it will always be visible from the Harbor Park in LSE.

^ True, I thought about that too. That particular vantage has the potential to be very stunning. Wow, how I'd love to stand in the middle of Harbor Park 20 years from now..

[Tom In Chicago]

They've fenced off the area west of Harbor Park around to the Tides and it looks like they've started digging somewhere just east of the sub-station. . . perhaps excavating for dinosaur bones. . . but more likely trying to find a ComEd line to breach again. . . anyhow the back-hoe is gone from the site and I suspect site prep is imminent. . .

[Alliance]

Originally Posted by the urban politician

^ My only concern is that such an interesting architectural statement won't be very visible. It's going to be obscured behind a lot of other buildings

Well, there will be the plaza in the center of LSE...that has to open up some viewpoint.

[trvlr70]

Originally Posted by Alliance

Well, there will be the plaza in the center of LSE...that has to open up some viewpoint.

Huh? What plaza?

[Wild Onion Mike]

Originally Posted by the urban politician

^ My only concern is that such an interesting architectural statement won't be very visible. It's going to be obscured behind a lot of other buildings

I fully appreciate this concern since Aqua will not be super prominent in the standard postcard shot. But don't you think it is nice to also have in your city's urban fabric more pockets that have to be sought out, like discovering hidden nooks or chambers within the forest of towers that are stunning. This could add to the awe factor of Aqua; the fact that it only reveals itself fully when viewed from the park in LSE.

[DetroitSky]

This is one of those designs that looks good on paper, but not on a skyline. Its still interesting, nevertheless.

[left of center]

Originally Posted by DetroitSky

This is one of those designs that looks good on paper, but not on a skyline.

^ they probably said the exact same thing about Marina City. Keep that in mind.


Courtesy of Google Image search.

[Steely Dan]

^ and marina city towers are two of the finest skyscrapers on the planet.

right now, it all comes down to execution. everything about the design of Aqua is blockbuster; the design just needs to be brought into reality with the proper care and attention to detail a design of this caliber deserves.

[left of center]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

^ and marina city towers are two of the finest skyscrapers on the planet.

Exactly. Great architecture is always controversial at first, and sometimes takes time to "mature." Aqua is in exactly the same situation, although probably wont become as prominent or beloved as Marina City, although this is simply due to its geography and placement in the city, which is more hidden than the expanive and revealing riverfront location that Marina City enjoys.

[the urban politician]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

^ and marina city towers are two of the finest skyscrapers on the planet.

right now, it all comes down to execution. everything about the design of Aqua is blockbuster; the design just needs to be brought into reality with the proper care and attention to detail a design of the caliber deserves.

^ Call this just speculation, but I would guess that Jeanne Gang probably won't want to screw up her first foray into highrise design and she'll be pretty wary of the details

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by the urban politician

^ Call this just speculation, but I would guess that Jeanne Gang probably won't want to screw up her first foray into highrise design and she'll be pretty wary of the details

but the manner in which those details are exceuted in the field isn't often determined by the architect. welcome to the wonderful world of VE (value engineering). it can save a client an ass-load of money, but it can also greatly cheapen an otherwise promising design.

[kalmia]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

but the manner in which those details are exceuted in the field isn't often determined by the architect. welcome to the wonderful world of VE (value engineering). it can save a client an ass-load of money, but it can also greatly cheapen an otherwise promising design.

Unless it is a really picky, hands-on architect

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by kalmia

Unless it is a really picky, hands-on architect

but in most cases it is the client, not the architect, who makes the final decision on VE items. of course, the architect tries to convince the client to stay as true to their original vision as possible, but when you got some contractor saying he's gonna save save you a million bucks by switching out this product for another one or to build something this way as opposed to the other way, clients have a tendency to listen.

[honte]

Originally Posted by left of center

Aqua is in exactly the same situation, although probably wont become as prominent or beloved as Marina City, although this is simply due to its geography and placement in the city, which is more hidden than the expanive and revealing riverfront location that Marina City enjoys.

Perhaps I've said this before, sorry if so: Although I think Aqua's great, I think that Marina City will always be several steps ahead due to its pioneering social concepts and truly radical nature, the incredible labor its architect put in to getting it built, and not to mention the breathtaking design and execution.

[kalmia]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aqua%2C_Chicago

[jjk1103]

.......out of curiosity, is there any update as to when construction might begin?

[denizen467]

^ hoe status, anyone?

[kalmia]

Originally Posted by denizen467

^ hoe status, anyone?