I say Pelli's is most in line with the elegance of san francisco, and SOM's is in line with it's "state of mind," noting the twist. The bent tower in the bent city.
I'd say I'd cast for Pelli based on the first set of images, but Som's Plaza is really something. I reckon I wouldnt be upset with either!
Last edited by San Frangelino; Aug 7, 2007 at 1:20 AM.
This building reminds me of the some of the buildings in the game called "Crack Down". I think they should just add more floors instead of the 4 antennas with the two disc's. Then again it dosen't look bad with them. Very impressed with all of the designs.
Oh man, go Rogers. The structure picks up on the Golden Gate design cues. 1118 roof is damn sweet. Spire above the Empire State, even better. The SOM base looks like Dubai, impressive.
But knowing San Francisco, they will go with the most conservative proposal. SF may be this so called "liberal bastion" but visual taste there soooooo conservative.
__________________
"The large print giveth and the small print taketh away"
It's going to be very hard to decide between Pelli and SOM.
I absolutely LOVE the idea of the 5.4 acre park on the roof of the terminal in Pelli's proposal. Pelli's tower is sleek, elegant and beautiful. This is an awesome proposal.
The tower in the SOM design is by far the best (IMO). It's graceful and bold at the same time. The curvature of the structure and the twist in the form is most pleasing and complimentary. The base design is a masterstroke, just magnificent! The terminal design is also quite artisitc, open, light filled and beautiful. I was very impressed with the LEED standards that SOM is trying to obtain.
I'm sorry, but I really dislike the Rogers proposal. I normally like his work too, but I think he went too far here. I don't think this tower fits the context of the SF skyline at all, and the terminal is almost an afterthought.
Right now my fav is the SOM proposal. All I can say is whoever wins, you bay area fourmers are DAMN LUCKY!
I like all three of them and am excited to see a restaurant on the top floor. I loved Windows on the World in the WTC and the signature room in the JHC. Is there an estimated finished year/date?
__________________
There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs
I really like the park idea on the top as well, but the tower for pelli is just so boring. If we are going to build something that tall in SF, it seriously needs to be outstanding.
The skin on SOM proposal is an artform in itself. I love the twists and curves and the intricacies of the frame. And the way it meets the ground, with the large video screen projectile as you enter the terminal, fantastic! Beautiful! Fabulous! I can't believe that in a few years, this is what our new downtown is going to look like. Looks like a completely different city!
The SOM tower would be the second tallest tower in the entire country (as of now, although, upon completion, it would be around the 4th tallest). It would also be in the top 10 tallest buildings in the world. Yah, we rock!
Oh an about pelli's design - as configured it's got 1.6 MSF of office space.
Aint gonna happen ..period. Prop M alone dictates a limit of something like 800k sq feet of office space a year. Unless the site would be exempted, it's an impossibility.
i like pelli's terminal design and SOM's tower! either way we cant lose!
I think thats how I am feeling now after dinner and a second review. But of course I have only seen a few pictures of both and no plans. That will probably make a big difference.
Is it me of is there oval shapes spheres at the top of the Pelli design?
^All 3 designs iclude vertical axis wind turbines at the top. Rogers' appears to have the 4 metal roof sections close and open around the turbines. The SOM design is BY FAR the best... If you look at the render, the whole tower bows outward toward the top and leans out over the terminal.. it cantilevers part way out over it, hence the Michell's truss getting super dense at the base. If you don't believe me, look at the straight lines on that shorter building just to the right, and compare it to the SOM Tower. Rogers' design has some good things happening with it, but I give it second.
I would need to see some more close up renders of Rogers' and SOM's terminal, to decide which one I like the most. Pelli's is pretty cool looking, but is the only one shown up close.