A surge of tall buildings, the vast majority of them housing rental apartments, is creating a densely populated, urban core [...] the Super Loop is patently un-super in at least one respect: It lacks a new version of the technological and aesthetic innovations that made Chicago's reputation as the cradle of modern architecture. As Mayor Rahm Emanuel prepares to host the second edition of a global architecture biennial [...], most of the new high-rises are based on tired commercial formulas. — Chicago Tribune
Chicago's Super Loop is gentrifying and becoming denser as apartment buildings are multiplying and younger generations are moving in. But, most of the new apartments in these high rises are quickly built concrete boxes with glass balconies. The ordinary character of new construction in Chicago's Super Loop proves that it takes more than a strengthening economy to create interesting architecture.
5 Comments
There are lots of damn good design firms in this city - but developers go to the same 4-5 culprits each time for the residential towers.
the developers themselves deserve alot of the credit (blame). Some of the bKL projects approach something resembling architecture.
Agreed. bKL wasn't on my list of usual culprits. The list itself shall remain nameless. This was written as I look outside the office window towards yet another mid-rise by one of the culprits with very bad material selections. Overall massing is decent though.
"Good" design costs too much.
Blair isn't wrong but I wish he would get into more of the nitty-gritty. People can change something they don't understand.
NY land values are 3-4 times Chicago's, even in the Loop. NY transit density is better. NY has a larger rental and condo market and more saturated luxury housing market, forcing more competition. Average rents in NY are significantly higher. Chicago hasn't seen nearly the surge in international oligarchs looking for real estate as a safe place to stash money.
When the developers run the pro-formas here, they are working with drastically different numbers than these other cities - and sadly, often know exactly what they want to spend on the curtain wall before the project even starts.
Agree that Chicago architects aren't as good at housing as some in NY, LA, and anywhere in Europe, but there are other factors at play here as well.
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