Oh, Chicago, I think I’m in love… Not only is the public transport around here quick, easy, stylish, sensible and cool-looking with a nice view taboot, it’s also one of the most stunning cities i’ve ever had the opportunity to be enchanted by.
Just standing in the middle of the River Walk, and on the top of all the bridges, you are simply overcome by the beauty and majesty of the cityscape combining with the river and the lake in stunning detail. The architecture and planning around the Chicago River and Lake Michigan is so well done and thought out, that a unique beauty and grandness becomes instantly apparent. Chicago is definitely a unique city.
(FYI, the Trump building is a real eye sore and was illegal originally, due to its huge height originally planning to be taller than the tallest building in Chicago (which wasn’t allowed), but in true Chicago tradition, Trump apparently bribed a few officials by paying for the restoration of a nearby bridge and placing two new parks near his building as well as a dog park somewhere in the vicinity. The Wriggly building (that’s right, the giant lolly and bubblegum company) is the beautiful art deco piece in the centre)
That morning we went on a river cruise with an architect from the Chicago architecture foundation as our tour guide.
The irritating, but kind of nice example of post-modernist architecture, the Trump building again. And the stunningly beautiful Wriggly building.
Marina City. Designed by Bertrand Goldberg, completed in 1964. I would argue that the style is futurist (at least in terms of the 60’s), but Goldberg himself called his style of design Modernist during his time. There is much conjecture about the style in which this building is made, there are many sound arguments for many different styles, so the structure remains quite ambiguos as to to its style.
Another great example or three of post-modernist architecture.
The wheel house of the bridge. This one in particular is actually a museum in which people can enter to see the inner workings of the bridge mechanisms.
Some more post-modernism. This one in particular reflects the river it borders through its curved design.
An old rail bridge no longer in use that remains up all year round until once a year when they have to lower it and use it to maintain the right of way over that particular rail line, otherwise the rights revert back to the government.
Triangular houses.
A park.
Goose Island
The Civic Opera Building.
A post-modernist building with a map of the Chicago River painted down its side.
The Sears (now Willis) Tower.
River City, also by Bertrand Goldberg. His style is very intriguing.
This building is built right on the beach, which is illegal now, but it was built before the law was passed so it snuck in under the radar. Apparently bribery helps as well.
The old naval pier now turned into a fair ground.
Dad found this butterfly, apparently it’s rare to see butterflies like this with their wings open. Also, very different to the kinds we get back home.
Why it’s called the ‘windy city’ (because of all the hot air blowing out of the businessman’s mouths, or so they say).
Where we had lunch. Yep, that place with the umbrellas underneath Marina City. The servers were so refreshingly rude. It was a nice change of pace.
A cool sculpture just in the middle of nowhere (or possibly in front of an art museum).
This is the Chicago Market.
And this is a sculpture in the middle of Chicago Market by Picasso. No one knows what it is. Neither did Picasso.
The view from the bar at the Holiday Inn.
Chicago is an amazing place. As you can clearly see by just how many photos I’ve taken of the architecture.