Inhabitat

whatever happened to the democratic rational of good architecture? the purity, and simplicity of nature’s inspiration? GREEN efforts are seizing the allure of glitz and glam, which trump the founding initiatives.

I think it’s beautiful – reminds me of a unicorn’s horn.

I would like to know more about how this is an example of biomimicry. Biomimicry incorporates natural processes and principles. Using the Fibonacci sequence does not make it an example of biomimicry. There needs to be a reason for using the Fibonacci sequence, to fit form and function together, as nature does. However, I can see how it would be biomorphic, looking like smoke spiralling or other things along the lines of human anatomy.

I agree with tuttles. It appears like it is using bio-mimicry, but exactly how is not stated enough. It will be nice to see it in more detail, bio-mimicry-wise, but I will say that it is good that there is some effort being put forth. Regarding the purpose of the design, I think a good designer can legitimize anything given the task. The fact that it needs to be the second tallest is questionable since it is obviously doing so for THAT reason and not out of need. One thing nature does is refrain from creating fictitious necessities- is that what we have here?. I’m sure the views it blocks will be sustainable though. I think that someone’s bank account will grow based on the Fibonacci as well- haha. I can’t help but imagine it boring out a piece of wood and raining saw dust all over Chicago – “green” snow.

I lived in Chicago for 30 years. I would not want to live in this…even if I was a multimillionaire. It seems to ruin the skyline, and it certainly worries me about being a terrorist target. Its very very sci fi for Chicago…very Buck Rodgers.

Its just something I am not ready for. Then again, I am a huge Helmut Jahn fan, and many hate his works.

Calatrava is and has always been about imposing his own egotism on urban and natural landscapes. His consistent one-liners (ie. this one is an eyeball, this one is a bird, and they move!) are architectural gimmicks at best. The only reason this project touts any green initiatives is 1: it has a massive budget that Calatrava and his team will no doubt exceed and 2: It is a demand of the market (and Mayor Daley). The latter is an important step towards progress. The former reveals the project as it is, fully anemic in any sort of innovation. The project does not advance the discourse, it simply replicates tested and conventional (high dollar) products and systems. We should all know better than to get swept up in the hype of false ingenuity of which Calatrava reigns supreme.

My first thought at seeing this building design is that it seems eminently appropriate to build a spiraling skyscraper in Chicago, given that it is known as the \”windy city,\” and given that the trees that best weathered the strong winds of hurricane Katrina (and every other hurricane along the gulf coast) have a spiral growth pattern. I am neither an architect nor an engineer, but I suspect that the spiraled support columns lend structural stability against powerful gusts much the same as said trees. I was actually pleasantly surprised by the gold LEED rating though. I would have preferred to see some wind turbines and solar panels to green it up a bit more (help power the elevators and other systems), but at least it\’s good to see them use geothermal power.