Comments ( 18 )

• Don’t humiliate River North by posting such sub par architecture, ever again please.

• I don’t think the French were thinking 13 story buildings when they developed the mansard roof. Given that the residents who choose to live in this absurdity, did so because of choice and not economics, this says a lot about them. They are likely to be well off Republicans (the Dems are more style savvy) moving in from the North Shore, that want to live in a historical time when the world was less diverse and interesting. Sadly (for them) buildings like this didn’t exist in the 19th century, and they shouldn’t today.

  This will be the laughing stock in 40 years.

• Devyn, we all know the Libertarians are the most stylish folk around.

• I think the French were also not thinking about Chicago when they developed the mansard roof!

  Joel – In all seriousness I’d actually like to think the Libertarians are a design-savvy bunch…minimized government involvement = freedom to express great taste in design…too bad it often doesn’t work out that way…

• Also – Devyn, you are far too kind. This will be the laughingstock (frankly, as will its residents), just as soon as this atrocity is completed…

• so….I am one of the residents (to be) of this development, and I’ve read the comments with interest.

  I sadly agree that the design and aesthetics of the building leave something to be desired.

  BUT, it’s unfair to really evaluate a development without looking at both the exterior AND the interior.

  believe me, we searched far and wide, and these are the most functional floor plans around — much more square instead of the usual elongated units you usually find. Also, at this price point, it offers by far the most square footage while still maintaining higher end finishes.

  There is more to say, and I don’t completely disagree with the criticism of the exterior, but I think you should take practicality of living in the building into account when making statements like: “Given that the residents who choose to live in this absurdity, did so because of choice and not economics, this says a lot about them.”

  btw, I’m a left leaning progressive Democrat 🙂

• If exterior design were the sole consideration, Chicago high-rises would quickly depopulate.

  Everyone should remind themselves that our most significant modernist icons – Mies’ “glass houses” at 860-880 LSD – were virtually unlivable when they opened. Mies knew nothing about how people lived, and apparently cared less.

  I’d like to point out that some of our commenters are talking about “humiliating” a neighborhood that hosts the Rainforest Cafe, McDonald’s, Moody Bible, etc. etc. etc. Can they be serious?

• By looks of it… It appears that the owner or development team designed this more than the architect of record. I’ve seen this before, although usually on smaller projects around town. It’s a classic case of the owner thinking they know more about architecture and style than the professional.

• joe, thanks for the support 😉

  I DO understand the criticism, but just wanted to raise other issues someone actually buying into the building would have to consider.

  remember, the occupants spend much more time IN the building looking out, than they do outside looking in!

• It’s always the usual suspects posting architectural criticisms on here. I wonder what design qualifications they actually have. I am an architect who knows the balance that needs to be achieved between a developer’s design and construction budget with that of an architect wishing to design something livable and impressionable. In my mind, that balance has been achieved here. Anyone here criticizing who has studied architecture should know the phrase ‘Form follows function’ and here we have a development that is highly functional to its residents and a extremely generous amount of square footage per unit. They are single floor residences for pete’s sake. Tell me another developer or architect who has done that in River North at this price. Every other development would cram in at least a half dozen more units per floor with ‘more efficient’ use of floor area (that’s developer speak for smaller units and tighter common elements) while providing buyers with, ironically enough, ‘inefficient’ floor space. While, I’m not a fan of mansard roofs either or yellowish white spandrel brick for that matter, I think there is plenty worse going up around town.

• Thanks for your informed opinion Johnny.

  To clarify — there are two residences per floor, not one.

  But aside from that, I entirely agree. There are many gorgeous developments around, but we had a very hard time finding something that conformed to our budget, but at the same time offered the finish level we were looking for in the space we wanted. In fact, this was the only one.

  I too, could do without the white spandrel, but you have to compromise somewhere 🙂

• Johnny, 50 E. Chestnut does have full-floor units, but they do start at nearly double the price of this development.

• “They are likely to be well off Republicans (the Dems are more style savvy) moving in from the North Shore, that want to live in a historical time when the world was less diverse and interesting. Sadly (for them) buildings like this didn’t exist in the 19th century, and they shouldn’t today.”

  What a pompous ass!

  Realistic, I wouldn’t spend to much worrying about what these tools think.

• Johnny said:
  “It’s always the usual suspects posting architectural criticisms on here. I wonder what design qualifications they actually have.”

  By osmosis. They think just because they make their residence in a town that has hosted some of the great architects of the last 100+ years they’re qualified to look down their nose at everyone else.

• I will never stop looking down on and thumbing my nose at people who could look at a structure such as 30 W. Erie and not be sick to their stomach. It is a hideous schlockfest that will blight its neighborhood from day one…

• Sam

  get back to me when you’re actually looking to buy/live in one of these buildings instead of just taking the architecture cruise.

  good architecture and design is about function and practicality in conjunction with aesthetics — as Johnny said.

• Thanks Johny and Realistic…it get’d tiring to hear the Clinton wannabees lecture the masses on architecture, especially when they refuse to look at the other issues of the development in addition to form and function. Don’t you know, their is huge architectural genious minds at work to throw up more glass towers 🙂

• Sam,

  My stomach toughened as I grew up.

  Hopefully yours will when you do.