In the case of all of Chicago's black Miesian towers they literally were designed to look good in cold weather. The color black during the early Modernist period was popular because it hid the industrial grime that so blighted older stone and terra cotta towers (mainly coal soot) and also because it contrasted grey dreary skies and snow so well. The idea was to make the tower pop against a backdrop of clouds.
In the case of all of Chicago's black Miesian towers they literally were designed to look good in cold weather. The color black during the early Modernist period was popular because it hid the industrial grime that so blighted older stone and terra cotta towers (mainly coal soot) and also because it contrasted grey dreary skies and snow so well. The idea was to make the tower pop against a backdrop of clouds.
Neat factoid
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One of my favorite thoughts it to ponder what people must have thought the first time they saw super early modernist towers like 860-880 LSD back when they were first built. Think how radical an all glass and steel box painted intentionally black must have looked in a city entirely occupied by soot stained masonry buildings. Just incredibly bold in context.
Today it's easy to forget how special buildings like that were at the time given the flood of knockoffs that followed But when you consider the context of the times, it's easy to see why people were so instantly attracted to post war modernism and how they were able to allow absolute architectural treasures to be cast aside for progress.
One of my favorite thoughts it to ponder what people must have thought the first time they saw super early modernist towers like 860-880 LSD back when they were first built. Think how radical an all glass and steel box painted intentionally black must have looked in a city entirely occupied by soot stained masonry buildings. Just incredibly bold in context.
Today it's easy to forget how special buildings like that were at the time given the flood of knockoffs that followed But when you consider the context of the times, it's easy to see why people were so instantly attracted to post war modernism and how they were able to allow absolute architectural treasures to be cast aside for progress.
And now we've evolved into this:
Bonus River Canyon:
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I couldn't help myself. I had some flight time credit with built up with my provider, and my wife and I were able to schedule a last-minute helicopter flight to get some shots of the iced over lake. We flew doors off, but considering what we went through the previous few days, it wasn't that bad up there.
We did a few big lazy loops over the city/lake, so I didn't really get any close shots over Vista, but it made its way into plenty of photos. Conditions were challenging. Much hazier then I would have expected, but I assumer the 'warmer' 15° air may have added some humidity back into the atmosphere.
My wife got some great Vista shoot shooting with her 28-300mm. Once she gets some uploaded, I'll share 'em
Thanks so much! I 'sold' them some large-scale artwork for their walls in exchange for flight tine. I don't usually like to barter, but in this case, it made complete sense.
Flight credits sound so much better than me having some coffee credits stored up to use on my next dunkin coffee...that 1st shot is awesome Nick. others aren't to bad either. 8)
Incredible updates! Thanks everyone! It is wild that there are still issues with the balcony glass but overall the glass looks awesome. The shades are becoming very prominent, no doubt when fully enclosed this will be recognizable on an international scale.
So, I know we all are already big fans of the glass, but I've been taking unscientific public gauging on how people feel about the glass and let me just say... it's not good.
Most people think it looks "tacky", "ugly", "messy", and "confusing". And to be honest, I kind of get where they are coming from at this point. I do think once it is a cohesive set of glass, it'll look good, but "they" have a point (right now).
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I'm here for a long time, not a good time
So, I know we all are already big fans of the glass, but I've been taking unscientific public gauging on how people feel about the glass and let me just say... it's not good.
Most people think it looks "tacky", "ugly", "messy", and "confusing". And to be honest, I kind of get where they are coming from at this point. I do think once it is a cohesive set of glass, it'll look good, but "they" have a point (right now).
Let's ask them when it's finished
The general consensus among non-skyscraper-nerds is that buildings which are under construction are super ugly and should just be finished already. I hope that the only reason your survey returned unfavorable results is for this reason, that they are unable to picture the finished product, grand entrance and riverwalk infrastructure included
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Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood and probably themselves will not be realized.
Good point and well said. I'm sure it's because there are random panels missing and no uniformity. Contrast it to how smooth and uniform WPE glass setting has gone, you truly have to envision the big/finished picture with Vista to appreciate the glass design and look.
Also very random but MOD's why is the rendering for this thread still that awful first edition?
Somebody was asking about the hole in the floor - appears to have been from one of the tower cranes.
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Harry C - Urbanize Chicago- My Flickr stream HRC_OakPark
The man who trades freedom for security does not deserve nor will he ever receive either. B Franklin.
So, I know we all are already big fans of the glass, but I've been taking unscientific public gauging on how people feel about the glass and let me just say... it's not good.
Most people think it looks "tacky", "ugly", "messy", and "confusing". And to be honest, I kind of get where they are coming from at this point. I do think once it is a cohesive set of glass, it'll look good, but "they" have a point (right now).
Perhaps they're referring to the color/color variation on the glass? I have to say, that is a pretty vivid shade of aqua (especially at the outermost points).
It was a beautiful night for a walk downtown. Even with no lights, there's impact on the river at night. She's gonna be something special.
Also, that day picture definitely shows the glass variation and transition is getting smoother, but like others said, missing glass panels can throw a rut into it very easily. So far, I prefer how it looks with clouds over sunlight, but there haven't been many sunny days, so who knows?
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I'm here for a long time, not a good time
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