Calatrava in Chicago

[dsnider]

I was just trolling for any opinions on Calatrava's new skyscraper proposed in Chicago.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-pod-050727tower,1,261187.photo

[dsnider]

another link with a better pic

http://premium.cnn.com/2005/US/07/26/chicago.skyscraper.ap/

[Kevin]

Not as controversial as the so-called "Freedom Tower", based on the differential in forum response. Understandably.

And from the glimpse suggested by these images, Calatrava offers the Windy City a dramatically better tower design than the camel scheme in New York. Conceptually elegant, graceful, though still perhaps out of scale and possibly, a bit self-involved.

[112tinobuntic]

I love skyscrapers and skylines. That's why I love Manhattan and, from what I see in photos, Tokyo. But this structure seems out of place. It looks futuristic. Doesn't it stand out like a sore thumb?

[DesignTheatre]

How romantic! Calatrava is a hardware man. He would preferably wear a chain mail than a shirt. Look at that tower! Is he trying to say that 'this tall building is tall becasue of all the induvidual components holding it, a mirage of a giant screw made of many small screws'?! Only that he stuck the screw upwards from the basement.

[dsnider]

Supposedly, it is paying homage to the native americans who lived in this area.....it is representative of a curling column of smoke. But if it is ever built, it wil probably go the way of Cloud Gate......which will always and forever be known as the "bean" of millenium park.

[ghaaree]

woo,man!
thats the most stylish screw ever!
no doubt its a calatrava building......always larger than life.
but now what we can see from the pictures in the above links,is just the exterior......so let us all wait for the structure to stand.

[Jeremy]

Interestingly enough, Calatrava prefers to be known as an engineer. I don't think there's anything wrong with 'sticking out like a sore thumb'. if it's too futuristic, eventually the future will come and he'll be hailed as a forefather of modern architecture. Although I see Gehry nailing that tile first.

It's impossible to write off the skill and precision necessary for him to birth his projects, however, his stuff is cold, more often than not. I want to look at it but not live in it. I want to read the plans, but wouldn't want to spend the night.
At least they aren't 'rebuilding' something from 100 years ago.

Jeremy

[DesignTheatre]

I agree with Jeremy on Calatrava preferably wanting to be known as an engineer. Most of his famous bridges exude his exhilaration in creating structures that are quite a challenge to achieve. He sure gets the kick out of solving the structural jigsaw.
What futuristic? I don’t see any futuristic thingy in his work, except that they are good big man's toys. By the way things are going, soon one might be able to create a digital virtual house that exists in physical space, toilets, bedrooms and all, and just can be turned off when you go out, maybe carry it too. But sure enough, architectural design is about creating spaces that are more than just the mundane and obvious. They are more obviously the perfect meaning givers. And how one achieves it is one's own prerogative. Calatrava can have all the fun he wants with his structure; that fun translates eventually into very exciting spaces and becomes very evident in the space thus created. He is an artist/architect in his own right; what one calls him hardly matters.
His stuff may be cold, but is right to do. He reflects the attitude of a man who will want to be always right, not necessarily warm and comforting. If someone does not like the cold truth, don’t blame the truth for being the truth. I would live in his house for one, or I will try to adapt quickly. Rejecting his house will make me a sissy.

[DesignTheatre]

I agree with Jeremy on Calatrava preferably wanting to be known as an engineer. Most of his famous bridges exude his exhilaration in creating structures that are quite a challenge to achieve. He sure gets the kick out of solving the structural jigsaw.
What futuristic? I don’t see any futuristic thingy in his work, except that they are good big man's toys. By the way things are going, soon one might be able to create a digital virtual house that exists in physical space, toilets, bedrooms and all, and just can be turned off when you go out, maybe carry it too. But sure enough, architectural design is about creating spaces that are more than just the mundane and obvious. They are more obviously the perfect meaning givers. And how one achieves it is one's own prerogative. Calatrava can have all the fun he wants with his structure; that fun translates eventually into very exciting spaces and becomes very evident in the space thus created. He is an artist/architect in his own right; what one calls him hardly matters.
His stuff may be cold, but is right to do. He reflects the attitude of a man who will want to be always right, not necessarily warm and comforting. If someone does not like the cold truth, don’t blame the truth for being the truth. I would live in his house for one, or I will try to adapt quickly. Rejecting his house will make me a sissy.

[Jeremy]

side note: Where is Bangalore?

I'm going to disagree with you on two points. First, I don't think architecture is completely up to whoever, and anything is art no matter what it is. That doesn't make sense and it takes away from those who are actually talented. I believe that there is only one, right structure for every lot. I think the earth in that space should speak what belongs there - the structure should be organic with the envinronment (not necessarily 'the environment' like nature, but the environment meaning the surroundings). Talent is a measure of how well you interpret this structure.

Second, you prove my point by saying you would adapt to his structure in order to live in it. let me say that this is not necessarily directed at calatrava, I like his stuff. A lot. But - you shouldn't have to adapt to a dwelling that is created specifically for you. It should be like breathing - a natural, comfortable environmnet that allows you to be who you are, even enhaces who you are.

Calatrava is great and I'm not saying that what he is building is not the perfect structure for that space. It very well may be.

Jeremy

[Jeremy]

side note: Where is Bangalore?

I'm going to disagree with you on two points. First, I don't think architecture is completely up to whoever, and anything is art no matter what it is. That doesn't make sense and it takes away from those who are actually talented. I believe that there is only one, right structure for every lot. I think the earth in that space should speak what belongs there - the structure should be organic with the envinronment (not necessarily 'the environment' like nature, but the environment meaning the surroundings). Talent is a measure of how well you interpret this structure.

Second, you prove my point by saying you would adapt to his structure in order to live in it. let me say that this is not necessarily directed at calatrava, I like his stuff. A lot. But - you shouldn't have to adapt to a dwelling that is created specifically for you. It should be like breathing - a natural, comfortable environmnet that allows you to be who you are, even enhaces who you are.

Calatrava is great and I'm not saying that what he is building is not the perfect structure for that space. It very well may be.

Jeremy

[Jeremy]

side note: Where is Bangalore?

I'm going to disagree with you on two points. First, I don't think architecture is completely up to whoever, and anything is art no matter what it is. That doesn't make sense and it takes away from those who are actually talented. I believe that there is only one, right structure for every lot. I think the earth in that space should speak what belongs there - the structure should be organic with the envinronment (not necessarily 'the environment' like nature, but the environment meaning the surroundings). Talent is a measure of how well you interpret this structure.

Second, you prove my point by saying you would adapt to his structure in order to live in it. let me say that this is not necessarily directed at calatrava, I like his stuff. A lot. But - you shouldn't have to adapt to a dwelling that is created specifically for you. It should be like breathing - a natural, comfortable environmnet that allows you to be who you are, even enhaces who you are.

Calatrava is great and I'm not saying that what he is building is not the perfect structure for that space. It very well may be.

Jeremy

[DesignTheatre]

Yes, I agree with you on the one solution thing. But there is more than 1 way of interpreting a site and the context. So every interpretation of the site forces and the genius loci will have its own solution. Take the example of ground zero. Many wants to build a memorial some want to retain the debris, some wants to build something taller than that was previously there. What do you think should be done there?
So it is a question of human spirit and how one wants to interpret the site, what ever be the history. Who is talented more than whom?
Yes, I will adapt to the structure if I am not already the kind who likes cold truth over warm niceties. If I like warm niceties over cold truth, how will a truthful structure be responsible for the blame? If my house should be like how I breathe, my structure will not be interacting with me, it will just be there unnoticed. I forget that I breathe until I choke. I don’t want to forget my house when I live day to day, I would prefer it always saying something to me. Ok, if my house has to enhance who I am, my house cannot be like my breathing. Are u not saying both at the same time?

Should i not be justified to be a bit surprised you wouldnt know Bangalore? Is in India. The capital of the state of Karnataka. I know many of my friends from Bangalore at New Jersy. How is that you have not met one Bangalorean in your lifetime? hhmm... This city is known to be so happening a place now that some people call it 'Bang-galore'!

[dsnider]

To say that there is only one possible design for any given site is ludacris and arrogant. There are many talented designers and any number of them could design a building that worked well with the site and responded appropriately to all the issues involved. And I garuntee that they would all be different. We do not live in Plato's dialectics. There is not a perfect concept of Building that must be stived to be achieved. There is more to a building than site issues.