i'm always curious about what's some of the latest in residential apt towers so this is what i saw.  more pics/info/comments on the links -- thx as always to curbed blog.

 

so what do you think of them?

 

 

 

chicago -- aqua tower

http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2008/03/03/architecture_watch_studio_gangs_aqua_tower.php

 

 

jakarta -- regatta jakarta

http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2008/03/05/architecture_watch_regatta_jakarta_sails_ahead.php

 

 

 

brooklyn/prospect park -- park tower

http://curbed.com/archives/2008/03/06/plgs_glassy_park_tower_revealed.php#more

 

 

I thought they were trying to stop that park tower in BK?  that crap in Jakarta....looks like the set of Stargate.

 

IIRC, The AQua (or one/several of the buildings within the developement) are currently under construction, I can the site from my office.

Gimmicky.  Apparently the architects behind Park Towers expect people to wander randomly around in their apts, but not to have any furniture.  Or perhaps those are just investors looking to flip?

^Furniture?  Oh my god, you're sooo cleveland.

 

I actually like the Chicago one and don't mind the BK one (community impacts aside).

no flipping in bk, but there is a trend toward pied-a-terres for part-time residents lately.

 

pt is a typical apt for the ny area lately. a lot of glass apt buildings are going up. it's nothing new, but it's kind of a new style for the region. most of it looks like schlock.

Gimmicky.  Apparently the architects behind Park Towers expect people to wander randomly around in their apts, but not to have any furniture.  Or perhaps those are just investors looking to flip?

In new york and at the imagined price as well as destroying every view near the park, I can't see a flipper.  You would think after the crap the city allowed to be built on 110/Lenox and across from FromHeightsToHarlem they would know highrises in the middle of brownstown neighborhoods don't work.  

 

Also, this isn't in anywhere near the Park Slope/Prospect Heights side of the park. So a) who is going to plop that kind of money down in that area and b) how is the west indian community going to react to "gentrification"?

Don't like the New York one, love the Chicago one, confused by the Jakarta one.

They all look like they are hiring Dubai Architectural Consultants to me, especially Jakarta.

Chicago = not sure whether I like it or not

New York = like it

Jakarta = gag me

Hate the Jakara one. What's with making all the buildings the same color?

Don't really like the Chicago one, but it looks like one of those designs that might look better once finished.

Brooklyn--too gimicky.

The Jakarta project is absurd - bad Dubai design absurd. Brooklyn project is meh.

 

Chicago's Aqua? Love it - here are some photos from the construction progess thread at skyscraperpage.com:

 

Taken by SolarWind at SSP:

 

Taken by wrabbit at SSP:

 

From the architects' site:

I wonder if they are going to put some blue-silvery paint on the cement. The rendering looks cool, but the constructed cement looks cold and lifeless.

I believe it's going to be painted white.

Its' right on the water.  It faces the Sheraton (across the water to the north) and there is a park on the south side of the building, which I think will have a water feature so I assume they are tying in "water" to the name of the building.  :?

My favorite by far is the Chicago one. The Jakarta one is a bit over the top, I think. And the NYC one is way too bland. Two offset cubes does not an interesting design make.

 

The Chicago one will look incredible at night. I'm constantly blown away by the level of architecture that comes out of Chicago. I wish other cities would place such consistently high design standards on their buildings, NYC included.

The Brooklyn tower is okay.  Great transparency.

 

That Jakarta stuff is just stupid.

 

But the Chicago tower has definite possibilities.  I think the renderings look pretty bad.  But the actual construction looks interesting. 

Aqua looks much better in the 2nd rendering. But I am just gonna wait till it's completed before making judgment on it. I will say it does look...different.

I'm confused but intrigued by the Jakarta one if it looked anywhere near close to it's rendering I would definitely want to visit it.  It's daring.