CHICAGO | The Elysian | 686 FT / 209 M | 60 FLOORS | COM - Page 91

SamInTheLoop · #**1801** Posted **Mar 25, 2010, 3:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

^^^ Yeah I gotta say I think Kamin gave a very fair review. Remember a critic's job is not to spout unjustified personal opinion, but rather to analyze a work from an artistic point of view.

I don't know....to be honest I disagree, I think it's entirely appropriate to, when a work of art is so highly offensive and, I would say "silly" as at least I and others find the Elysian to be, reflexively dismiss (in a professional critic-appropriate way, of course!) LaGrange's work is, simply put, not relevant to an architecture of today (or, in my opinion - ever!)

For sure, part of me wants to accept it as an urban design improvement, over say, a surface parking lot or a 1-story drugstore or fast food restaurant or what have you - however the just as forceful part of me that has a passion for great design is incurably nauseated by its presence and would trade it for the bare asphalt lot instead...

Nowhereman1280 · #**1802** Posted **Mar 26, 2010, 1:54 AM**

But Kamin makes it clear its not his bag, but that even if it were his bag, there are still major issues with massing and detailing. I mean I don't think its the critic's job to enforce their personal aesthetic tastes as much as it is to analyze the design from the perspective of what its style is trying to achieve. In this case he makes it quite clear that, when assuming Neo-classical architecture is what you are shooting for, parts of Elysian are pretty good, while much of it is quite off.

From an urban planning perspective it is pretty good. I also think it will look a lot better with age when the color fades a bit and some dirt gets worked into the concrete.

Dylan Leblanc · #**1803** Posted **May 26, 2010, 7:30 AM**

So the spires, or roof spikes, are not part of the final design?

texcolo · #**1804** Posted **May 26, 2010, 3:34 PM**

It needs a twin, that way they could call them the Jeff and Akbar Towers...

http://jakerake.wordpress.com/2009/02/26/wikipairs/

Zerton · #**1805** Posted **May 26, 2010, 5:18 PM**

The 'hat' makes a bad building into a horrible one.

Dylan Leblanc · #**1806** Posted **May 27, 2010, 6:44 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lexy

it looks like it should have a tassle hanging off the roof!! LOL!!!!

When the window washing equipment is in use the building will have a tassle hanging off of it!!

Dylan Leblanc · #**1807** Posted **May 27, 2010, 6:59 AM**

Wow, Emporis states the height as 208.99 m / 686 ft (link) and the CTBUH states the height as 213.74 m / 701 ft (link). I wonder why the difference?

Nowhereman1280 · #**1808** Posted **May 27, 2010, 1:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dylan Leblanc

Wow, Emporis states the height as 208.99 m / 686 ft (link) and the CTBUH states the height as 213.74 m / 701 ft (link). I wonder why the difference?

Ctbuh is wrong. The original height quoted was 701, but after being VE'd into an even more ugly reincarnation, it was lowered to 686. 701' is old data.

Dylan Leblanc · #**1809** Posted **May 27, 2010, 6:31 PM**

Hey thanks, knowhereman!

Northwest · #**1810** Posted **May 29, 2010, 2:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

Ctbuh is wrong. The original height quoted was 701, but after being VE'd into an even more ugly reincarnation, it was lowered to 686. 701' is old data.

I cant imagine the four corner spike are that costly. A few tens of thousands to put them back in would really help, but it doesnt look like its going to happen.
Is this thing complete yet? The hotel is open?

Nowhereman1280 · #**1811** Posted **May 29, 2010, 4:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northwest

I cant imagine the four corner spike are that costly. A few tens of thousands to put them back in would really help, but it doesnt look like its going to happen.

Its not the corners that did it. They completely reconfigured the top when they did the VE and basically dropped it a little lower and made the "cap" part more stretched in order to fit the water counter weights.