The Chicagoist asked their readers this question, and Gapers Block brought it up again a few days later.
Now we're taking the bait and wondering what AT readers think: What's your favorite Chicago structure? (Although this may be a repeat for some regular readers of all three blogs, we think it's a worthy-enough topic to get new readers going...). So, which buildings blow you away?
(photo via Chicago Uncommon)
One of the reasons I live in Chicago is for the architecture. As for listing what I love.... A very long list it would be, but a few of the highlights would include (in no particular order):
Marina City (my BF lives there)
Daley Plaza
Federal Center
181 W Madison
John Hancock
Sofitel
Skybridge
Reliance (Hotel Burnham)
Carson Pirie Scott
111 S Wacker
Crown Hall (a masterpiece)
and many more....
It's a tie between Marina City and 333 W. Wacker.
thanks for asking. it caused me to find out about some of my favorite buildings. i love three condo buildings that all happen to be right around grand (and just a bit north), just east of the river. and now i know their names.
kingsbury on the park
erie on the park
the contemporaine
there is something that i love about the similar design qualities each building has.
(i would love to see interior shots)
Not so much a structure as a moment...
Coming into the city from the south via LSD in the evening, there's a moment when you come around Soldier Field when the entire sweeping skyline pops out from behind the trees and hits ya like a freight train. With windows open, a lake breeze and the entire city lit up my heart fills with joy.
As for structures... again I point to an experience- The Chicago River boat tours provide such a unique vantage point that every structure along the river instantly becomes epic.
Other than that my favorite Chicago structures are the iconic wood porches on the 2 and 3-flat walk-ups. No other city seems to utilize their 10 sq feet of outdoor space as do Chicagoans...
The Monadnock Building and the Civic Opera House are two of my favorites. Marina City, as well. I'm also really looking forward to seeing some of the new building that are going up.
As for the skyscrapers, it's really how they all work together that makes the city so special to me.
Do the Frank Lloyd Wright houses in Oak Park count? And I know they're not technically a "structure" but I do love the Boulevards as well.
1. Not so much a "building" - the Gehry bandshell in Milennium Park.
2. The renovation of two unused vaudeville houses that resulted in the new Goodman Theatre
3. The as-yet-unbuilt Art Institute additions look incredible on paper
I'm with Alyssa... it's not a building per se, but all of the beautiful old mansions on Logan, Kedzie, and Humboldt Boulevards combined with the green expanses of grass really make me happy, especially this time of year!
I've always loved the Reid Murdoch Building.
I love the AMA building with that piece cut out at the top. Also, the Carbon and Carbide Building is a favorite. As for Marina City, it's cool at first but I've worked on this property for 4 years and it's just kind of ruined it for me.
billy,
i agree about the contemporaine. you can see a couple of interior shots here:
http://www.cmkcompanies.com/site/epage/26634_532.htm
i am also a fan of 156 W Superior. A cool Seattle building design updated in Chicago.
www.156westsuperior.com
not too mention i love many of the buildings that everyone has mentioned thus far.
I second the Monadnock Building. The other is the Chicago Cultural Center on Washington. It has the largest Tiffany stained glass domed ceiling and is beautiful.
the quads at University of Chicago
Daley Plaza
The Reliance
Carson's Pirie Scott on State
Marshall Fields on State
860-880 LSD
pretty much all of East Lake Shore Drive
most of the houses on Hawthorne
contemporaine
Have any of you seen the Moo & Oink building on the South side? It's no architectural marvel, but that crazy jingle always enters my head when I drive by the building.
Now THAT's an influential structure in Chicago.
MOOooooo & Ooooooiink!
The Rookery
Sofitel hotel
Sulzer Library (on Lincoln, for great neighborhood scale architecture)
I used to work in the IBM Building and my desk faced Marina Towers. Love the look from the street up, hate the view from the sky down.
Speaking as a resident of Marina City, I agree with the assessment of the view from the sky down. Two words: enough astroturf!
I do vote for MC, though. Just wish the condo board had a clue about the architectural significance of the place.
I also think R.R. Donnelly rocks at night, when the hidden uplights form a sea of trompe l'oeil columns up the sides of the building.
Almost wish you'd ask about the worst buildings. Chicago has so many good ones, it's the bad ones that really stand out.
Carbide and Carbon
Wrigley Building
Tribune Building
NBC Towers
Clearly my favorite view is Michigan Ave @ the river