Calatrava's Chicago Spire (Chicago)

[Zephyr]

^^^^ Great points!

Might I also suggest a Robert A. B. Stern skyscraper out on Chicago's lakefront, somewhere near Chicago Spire, to reinforce that idea. Calatrava in his mediocre ways in this case, could scarcely hold a candle to anything designed by Mr. Stern. And instead of all that boring glass and steel - with that gimmickry of helical shaping, outrigger bracing, and a spireless top - standing by its lonesome, we could compare it to a richly detailed masonry, with that unforgettable nostalgic stylings, that harkens back to the glory of a past Chicago skyline, both familiar and comfortable and less mediocre. Perhaps it could be an homage to the 'pink lady,' Edgewater Beach on Chicago's North shore, or a tribute to the London Guarantee Building, restored in 2001 and still on Michigan Avenue, or a kind of gorgeous rendition of Chicago Tribune Tower, in all its gothic revivalist fervour.

Now that would do the trick, in turning around a city led astray by Calatrava's efforts. If we are lucky, maybe the financing will fall through and it will never get built at all...

.​

 

[Zephyr]

Future Chicago Skyline in Silhouette

This is a photograph that has been reworked with Adobe Photoshop by Ryan81, and then corrected for proportion by Alliance. The goal was a photo-realistic rendering of the future Chicago skyline with Chicago Spire, Waterview, Trump Tower Chicago, Chicago Waldorf=Astoria and Aquitectronica's Aqua II worked into this final image. See if you can guess which is which.

Future Skyline as Viewed from the Lake

Courtesy SSP-Chicago Waldorf+Astoria / Ryan91-Alliance​

 

[buildup]

Might I also suggest a Robert A. B. Stern skyscraper out on Chicago's lakefront, somewhere near Chicago Spire, to reinforce that idea. Calatrava in his mediocre ways in this case, could scarcely hold a candle to anything designed by Mr. Stern. And instead of all that boring glass and steel - with that gimmickry of helical shaping, outrigger bracing, and a spireless top - standing by its lonesome, we could compare it to a richly detailed masonry, with that unforgettable nostalgic stylings, that harkens back to the glory of a past Chicago skyline, both familiar and comfortable and less mediocre. Perhaps it could be an homage to the 'pink lady,' Edgewater Beach on Chicago's North shore, or a tribute to the London Guarantee Building, restored in 2001 and still on Michigan Avenue, or a kind of gorgeous rendition of Chicago Tribune Tower, in all its gothic revivalist fervour.

Now that would do the trick, in turning around a city led astray by Calatrava's efforts. If we are lucky, maybe the financing will fall through and it will never get built at all...

I disagree with Zephyr. Calatrava is definately Stern's equal, perhaps even better. But the idea of Stern taking a Chicago project is a great idea. Problem is that he's too busy in New York. Strange that Calatrava's cube tower in NY didn't sell - it was unique.

 

[scarberiankhatru]

The Spire is a spectacular skyscraper, for sure, but it'll have a somewhat 'Asian' impact on Chicago's skyline...it might be more at home in Hong Kong than Chicago.

 

[wyliepoon]

^The Spire's form, without the spiral, matches Hong Kong's tallest, 2IFC.

 

[buildup]

"The Spire is a spectacular skyscraper, for sure, but it'll have a somewhat 'Asian' impact on Chicago's skyline...it might be more at home in Hong Kong than Chicago."

Architecturally discriminatory, or "incorrect". Perhaps all those foreign-inspired buildings should go home?

 

[Zephyr]

I disagree with Zephyr. Calatrava is definately Stern's equal, perhaps even better. But the idea of Stern taking a Chicago project is a great idea. Problem is that he's too busy in New York. Strange that Calatrava's cube tower in NY didn't sell - it was unique.

How can anyone be better than Robert A. B. Stern? Not Calatrava, not Frank Lloyd Wright, not Norman Foster - all mediocre pretenders.

 

[scarberiankhatru]

That image depicts an intriguing structure...is it the underbelly of one of the 'layers' near the base?

 

[Zephyr]

Chicago Spire compared to other Chicago Buildings

Chicago's Tallest Buildings - Proposed, Approved, Under Construction or Built

Courtesy SSP-Waldorf=Astoria / cactus22minus1, Alliance, bnk​

 

[Bogtrotter]

I think the spire design is extraordinary, sort of a much taller and twisted version of Foster's Gerkin in London.

I shouldn't think that it will stand out on the skyline anymore than CN does in Toronto, indeed probably less so.

 

[buildup]

"How can anyone be better than Robert A. B. Stern? Not Calatrava, not Frank Lloyd Wright, not Norman Foster - all mediocre pretenders."

Its not about who is better, give those guys some credit. They are all capable of work equal to Stern.

 

[Zephyr]

Ring of Steel

He goes by the name of andrsdtz. He is a 33 year old German who took photos off the SSP - Chicago Spire site, in order to repackage them to run as a video on YouTube. As audio he used Seal's "Amazing" – an excellent choice indeed.

Don’t deny yourself, it is slightly over seven minutes, and it selectively takes photos from hundreds posted, to construct this slide show. For a while it looks like the construction is making little headway, then you see caissons, and finally the construction of the "Ring of Steel" - the actual spot from which Chicago Spire will rise:

CLICK HERE to view video

"Ring of Steel"

SSP – Chicago Spire / Chi649​

 

[Conrad Black]

Thanks for posting that.

 

[caltrane74]

Wow!

So this one is really U/C?

 

[unimaginative2]

Wow! This is definitely the most exciting tower going up in NA. It sure does take up a small footprint.