Irishpirate is right: the new 26-story tower proposed for Hyde Park merits further discussion. It’s a rare example of all-new construction for the neighborhood, and the design, by Jeanne Gang, is meant to conserve energy with windows that tilt away from the sun’s most punishing rays.
The blog Hyde Park Progress in a post today refers to this project as Solstice on the Park. It’s also been profiled in Wired Magazine and Crain’s under the name Windermere West.
Wow. There’s no debate over this one. Just – wow.
Absolutely, it is brutal. The Architect combined a 26 story Japanese Driving Range and the recently torn down Robert Taylor welfare Towers. What next, the hallways will be covered in Field-Turf?
Can’t wait for the commercial launching their sales on public TV Channel 26….”Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, coming to your neighborhood, The Godzilla Public Housing Complex.”
It’s horrible! That thing makes me a NIMBY and I don’t even live there!
I’m constantly amazed by Chicagoans who have no understanding of interesting and innovative architecture. You do not deserve to live in this fine city. Please move to one of those faux Tuscan “villas” in Phoenix and let those of us with good taste and an appetite for boundary-pushing design continue to expand Chicago’s collection of museum-quality architecture without having to fight and educate the rest of you numbskulls.
It’s interesting, but I’m glad it’s not on my block! I respect Jeanne Gang, and think she is a talented architect. I’ve even had her on a jury for projects I’ve done myself. But if this were downtown, it would be much more successful. I am a modernist through and through, but it’s hard to imagine this in Hyde Park. Simple, elegant, restrained modernism fits best with historical context.
The more I look at it, I do love the design! I’m not going to condemn it yet…
LOL, I thought everyone would love this, it looks pretty cool to me, but it would need to be in the right place to work (Belmont & Clark? yes. Foster and Clark? no, no, no).
So Carter, what you are saying is context and surroundings mater in the quality of architecture…sounds logical to me. Of course we need the’fellas’ like Ecker to show us ignorant Chicagoans the innovative architectural light, especially architecture of the level of an Aldi Supermarket. Why so many people get excited over cheaply executed modern architecture, and then want to lecture you on your ingorance is amazing. Genre of architecture should not matter of quality materials is good, and their is some context to the projects location.
So Carter, what you are saying is context and surroundings mater in the quality of architecture…sounds logical to me. Of course we need the’fellas’ like Ecker to show us ignorant Chicagoans the innovative architectural light, especially architecture of the level of an Aldi Supermarket. Why so many people get excited over cheaply executed modern architecture, and then want to lecture you on your ingorance is amazing. Genre of architecture should not matter if the quality materials is good, and there is some context with the projects location.
I think it’s pretty cool. They should have done more traditional, less crazy renderings, IMO. The website is garish, and the rederings are overdone for this kind of building.
If you nay-sayers had seen a sketch of this in an architect’s portfolio from the 1930’s you would hail it as a futuristic wonder.
JC, Do you mean a futuristic wonder like the River City development…oh yes, what a wonder that was 🙂
This former Hyde Parker wants to know…are these architects the same geniuses who foisted that monstrosity known as the Catholic Theological Union on the same ‘hood, just a block away? If so, no wonder my ex-neighbors are so upset! No green space to speak of, light-sucking concrete exterior, building totally out of proportion to its surroundings, lack of respect for artistic qualities of the streetscape…yes, this is JUST what one of Chicago’s most aesthetically unique and pleasing neighborhoods needs!
BTW regarding River City…I’ve always rather liked it and have encouraged my clients to buy there if it fits their needs and wallets. Yes, it’s an “acquired taste,” but for those who have acquired it, this is a unique city-within-the-city with several desirable features.
Do not think I don’t appreciate good art and architecture, but it looks like something that belongs in a neighborhood that’s transitioning from industrial to residential. I definitely see it on the north branch of the river around the old Montgomery ward buildings, but not Hyde PArk. I’d suggest something glassy and sleek.
On an industrial stretch surrounded by warehouses, etc. would be perfect.