I rode the train into Chicago this morning to meet with my boss and his business partner. They were already in the city to take care of some legal business for a client, so we decided to use it as an excuse to visit Alex, their previous intern. Alex and I worked together for a few weeks this summer, but then she left for a structural engineering internship with SOM in the city.
I didn’t have to meet Steve (my boss) and Renato (his partner) until 10:30, which meant I could sleep in and catch a later train than I normally do. I decided to take the early train anyway, and use the extra hour to explore the city. Even though Steven and I live 40 miles away from Chicago, we hardly ever go down there because it is such a hassle. So consequently, there are still many things I would love to see and/or experience in the city.
Almost immediately when I got off the train I felt like an intruder in the city. There is an intense momentum in the people there. They know where they are going and they are on a mission to get there. They don’t stop to look at buildings, or contemplate shopping in a store, they just keep going. I think everyone else is a tourist, and I definitely fit into that category today. I like to think that I didn’t look so “touristy” with my laptop bag and dressy work clothes, but I am sure I still did.
Despite my feelings of awkwardness, I was very happy with what I got to see and do in the city today. Ralph Johnson, of the Perkins+Will firm here in Chicago, recently designed two spectacular, modern multifamily housing units. Both are mostly made of concrete and glass, and are absolutely stunning. I was able to see “skybridge” today, while “contemporaine” (the other) will have to wait for another visit. Skybridge will probably be known for the fact that it is split into two separate buildings, with a glass bridge spanning the 30 foot gap, hence the name “skybridge”. What I enjoy about it though, is how it combines serious rectilinear shapes with brightly painted panels. To me it combines the concepts of work and play into one building. I saw some other interesting buildings as well. I particularly liked the one on 540 W. Madison, although I have no idea what kind of a building it is or who designed it.
I was given specific instructions to follow the crowd towards Michigan Avenue, which is where I needed to meet Steve and Renato. However, I went in the opposite direction to see a few things, and then didn’t exactly know where I was going. I had a pretty good idea I was headed in the right direction, and when I saw the Frank Gehry Concert Hall monstrosity, I knew I was in the right place.
I have nothing against one titanium building, but now we have it at the Guggenheim at Bilbao, the Walt Disney concert hall in Anaheim… one is enough for me. I don’t enjoy his crazy “dynamic” forms. I ate lunch with Steve, Renato, and Alex in the University Club building at a restaurant called “The Gallery”. We had a neat view of the city, right over Frank Gehry’s Concert Hall in Millennium Park. Luckily, there are some other neat things down there to check out.
The public art in Millennium Park is paying off really well. I saw plenty of people there today, playing in the water, and getting a closer look at the bean (which is being repolished right now).
I will post more about this “adventure” tomorrow when I don’t feel so ill! Sorry, but see you then!
