A building made of waves of water is not exactly the safest
material for walls of an apartment complex. The aqua hotel/resident building is
a new Chicago skyscraper landmark. Designed by Jeanne Gang and created by
Studio Gang Architects, the team created a building like no other in the city
of Chicago. Women should be proud because Jeanne Gang has made a name in
Chicago for women architects all around. The building is called Aqua for a
reason. Standing far from the building during the day the blue windows reflect
a beautiful blue/turquoise hue while the rounded white protrusions of cement on
each floor make a rippling effect throughout the building. Each floor has a
balcony made of the white cement. Each is varying in rounded shapes creating a
pattern when each are put together it looks like it is constantly undulating.
It looks like the building was in one white chunk, and sliced a bunch of times
horizontally, then each piece placed on top of a square of blue windows
creating the towers height. In
event of an earthquake, the building looks as though it would just sway side to
side just like its unique and beautiful shape suggests it should. Looking at
it, blocking out the rest of the prolific skyscrapers in Chicago, you would
think this magnificent building were located in Vegas, or even Dubai. Even though this building is a
wonderful addition to the Chicago city skyline, the best place to look at the
skyscraper is right underneath it. When you stand under and look up to the sky,
the separated slabs become one, and the building no longer looks like it has
windows. It looks like a Chunk of cement beautifully sculpted by a true artist.
From underneath the three dimensional oblong shape really takes effect. It no
longer looks like the building is stuck in perpetual motion, but static bulges
of cement. Even like a slab of
cookie dough that has not been fully rolled out to flat. Truly an original
design. When standing on Columbus drive, there are two hotels that are in front
of the aqua, both of these hotels are black and are angled inward the building.
If this is a coincidence then it is a great one, but it is nice to think that
the buildings around the aqua were a part of the design of the skyscraper. A
line is created by the two black hotels that showcase one beautiful line of the
Aqua all the way op to the top of the sky. Only one wave can be seen from this
angle, but it is magnificent. The juxtaposition of the blackened windows to the
white and blue oblong shape highlights the Aqua’s beautiful architecture. The
only thing that chops of the buildings succession of waves is the story of flat
windows. But this part reminds the viewer that you are looking at a
hotel/apartment building, a building like no other in the city. The only thing
that comes close is the institute of Jewish studies on Michigan Ave. It too is a building that is oblong in
architecture but is not fluid as the Aqua. This building could have been what
the Aqua was birthed from, with its wavy features and beautiful blue glass.
If you are looking to rent a studio in downtown Chicago,
Aqua may be the place. For 1,600 dollars a month to live in a gorgeous Chicago
staple is highly affordable for the lively area the building stands in. And
compared to other buildings in the area charging 2,500 dollars for a studio,
why wouldn’t one pick a beautiful place to show off to their friends. Unless
you get motion sickness easily, the Aqua is the most satisfying building to
look at in the entire city. Aqua is the kind of building that completely stands
out from the conformed straight lines of the Chicago city skyline. It’s a
wonder why most architects make buildings with straight lines when there is so
much beauty in oblong shapes. Chicago needs more architects with unique
structural ideas. It means a lot to women in this city seeing that one has
created the most beautiful structure in the city. This building is truly
inspiring, one can only hope that the Aqua will inspire other women architects
to create beautiful structures in this city.
