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Dogfight over 'doggie in the window' building
A fascinating little architectural dogfight is shaping up over the future of Chicago's "doggy in the window" building, architect Stanley Tigerman's Anti-Cruelty Society
A fascinating little architectural dogfight is shaping up over the future of Chicago's "doggy in the window" building, architect Stanley Tigerman's Anti-Cruelty Society
- Blair Kamin for the Chicago Tribune
3 Comments
why don't they leave the building alone? install dual glazing, strip and water proof, and replace the aluminum siding with insulated aluminum siding to match existing. That should solve all the problems client stated.
and what about putting that pubic hair greenwash fence plants on the roof? to hide the ugly mechanical?? that is so subjective. i could understand if they are doing that to use the roof for dog park, and at least they don't do it in the front. but to hide the mechanical?? the building facade mainly functions for pedestrian or vehicular eye level, who sees them anyway? and if they do from a distance, so what? weren't they always there? it is not supposed to be monticello here, even though it clearly shows tigerman's skillful understanding and critique of that kind of organization and reference.
in the existing building, as executed masterfully and as illustrated in the photo, architect extensively uses transparencies, line thicknesses and delicate compositional tonalities, frames and other details at an exceptionally artful level.
anti-cruelty society building was noticed by many students and scholars looking at this so called post modern era and this architect's role and works in it.
(if anything, exterior alterations should be concentrated around advising and assisting the client to apply for relocating the bus stop off center and get it out of under the dog's nose. this seems like already underway as depicted in proposed renderings with eliminated bus stop shelter.)
i just don't get it. not a fan of tigerman but what is the value of the replacement? all the problems stated (insulation and waterproofing) can be improved without changing the essentials like shiplap siding which seems to be demoed because new architect can't specify something similar with better insulation and water tightness.
the student architect could have advised clients not to get too extensive with material change and be diligent about pointing to the value of existing design and the cultural capital of his own profession. instead he seems selling/servicing 'whatever' attitude and perhaps, but i doubt, can't read and appreciate his own craft.
(or, i would like to think, the remodeling architect has a remorse about the project and calls tigerman to start the campaign to stop the ignorant/uninterested client on its tracks.., stanley calls blair.., etc. and so on..)
does this building, as is, has any architectural, historical and cultural value? sure it does...
does the proposed remodeling significantly impacts the existing building design and its accumulated architectural value?
sure it does. it completely demolishes tigerman's original design, authorship and replaces it with something else, which has none of the qualities and historical placement associated with this building.
and, last but not least, a word for the client: listen!
Here's the link to the Chicago Tribune article.
I would'nt feel bad to see it torn down. Its grossly out of context. The surrounding area is large masonry loft structures, towering glass office buildings and concrete apartments. The building is sitting on highly underutilized property. For what they could sell it for, the anti-cruelty society could build 4 or 5 centers in the neighborhoods. As for the merits of the design, its building made to look like an abstracted dog's face? I think we just pin pointed the moment western architecture lost it's soul. The sooner Tigerman's design gestopo is gone the better off we all will be.
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