Two "Starchitect" projects in Chicago

[Subdude]

Chicago, of course, has a long history of celebrity architects, beginning with the father of them all, Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright spent the early years of his career in suburban Oak Park, where he built a large house and studio. The surrounding neighborhood

[editor]

This is a good example of the differences between what architects consider great architecture and what ordinary people consider great architecture.

99% of the people in Chicago have probably never heard of those buildings on LSD. They're not that great. They're not cherished by anyone but architecture nerds trying to make themselves feel superior to other people. Same goes for the Inland Steel buidling (now officially known as 30 West Monroe). A structure so cherished celebrity architects that it was recently bought by celebrity architect Frank Gehry. No one else cares.

On those rare occasions that people in Chicago think of Meisian architecture, they think of One IBM Plaza, the Equitable Building, or the classroom buildings at IIT.

Calatrava's Fordham Spire project, however, is very popular, and I expect when it's finished it will be a great symbol of the city. Already Cloud Gate, also known as "The Bean" is replacing the Sears Tower as a symbol of Chicago. It, when combined with the Fordham Spire will be the new stars of Chicago architecture.