It’s no wonder Chicago is seen as the city of architecture when it learns from all the greats! 2. The craziest fact I like the most though is that the building itself is host to over 140 fragments of other famous structures and buildings from around the world a piece of the Great Wall of China, part of the Great Pyramid, and reliefs from Notre Dame, Hagia Sophia, the Taj Mahal and Westminster Palace to name but a few are cemented into place next to Chicagoan rock and concrete. So if you’re giving yourself a Chicago Architecture Tour look out for the Robin Hood (for Raymond Hood) and a howling dog (for John Mead Howells). One of the entries was for a giant head of a native American (Indian) a lá Mount Rushmore! The winning architects, Raymond and John, have allowed themselves a featured image of themselves in the entrance lobby. The Neo-Gothic Tribune Tower is a result of a competition! A nice publicity stunt to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Chicago Tribune which got over 260 entries, but no surprise as the winner would take home $150k. Enjoy yourself on a free self-guided walking tour of some of the most famous architecture in Chicago! 1. Tip : Most of the following buildings can be seen from the Riverwalk, downtown Chicago, so put on your walking shoes and maybe try this alternative to a Chicago Architecture Boat Tour. So, if you find yourself in this mid-west metropolis any time soon and are looking for things to do, be sure to look up at the heights of glass, steel and concrete and be prepared to be impressed and amazed by some great bits of trivia! I found out a lot of quirky and interesting stuff about some of the famous Chicago buildings after our recent trip to the windy city and it wouldn’t be right if I just kept all these facts to myself. It’s a world-famous skyline filled with iconic buildings – Chicago’s architecture certainly makes your jaw drop and your neck ache! But it’s innovative too and the more you start digging about the more you can’t help but be impressed by cutting-edge design and impressive first-time building techniques that Chicago has pioneered over the decades. Since its completion in 2009, the Aqua Tower has received numerous awards from such organizations as AIA Illinois, AIA Chicago, Emporis, Architect Magazine, and even PETA.Architecture in Chicago Chicago Architecture Unwrapped In Fun Facts And Crazy Details Many architectural historians consider the Aqua Tower to be one of the most successful examples of an aesthetically mature design for a functional tall building. Currently, floors 1-18 are occupied by the Aqua Radisson Hotel and floors 19-81 are residential. The irregular balconies surrounding the building help to break up wind vortices, minimize wind shear, shade neighboring units, and prevent birds from colliding with windows. But the building’s undulating exterior was not created solely for aesthetic reasons. Because of the irregularity of the building’s floors, each balcony of the building is unique to that unit. Each floor of the 82-story Aqua Tower is constructed of poured of 82 individual concrete slabs precisely measured with GPS coordinates. Taking inspiration from the many striated limestone outcroppings surrounding the lake, Studio Gang Architects created a graceful design reminiscent of ripple patterns found in nature. Relatively new to the Chicago skyline, the expertly designed Aqua Tower earned its rightful place amongst the city’s iconic buildings and is one of the tallest buildings in the world designed by a woman. Studio Gang founder and lead architect Jeanne Gang sought to create a skyscraper that reflected the natural environment around Lake Michigan.
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