Hot Sh*t From Around The World.. enjoy!

[stumpjumper]

Here's the Acqua Tower on Lakeshore Drive in Chicago.



85 floors, 262 metres and designed by a woman, by golly.

[SRW]

and designed by a woman, by golly.

Your point being?

[stumpjumper]

This building is the first skyscraper designed by a woman. That's a notable thing, but not the reason for posting the pic. I think it's a very notable building.

Don't be so sensitive and politically correct!

[crawf]

I'm sure that can't be right in these modern times.. Sexy building though!

[SRW]

This building is the first skyscraper designed by a woman. That's a notable thing, but not the reason for posting the pic. I think it's a very notable building.

Don't be so sensitive and politically correct!

It's the tallest, but hardly the first, skyscraper designed by a woman. You're right that it's an architecturally notable (and very beautiful) building, but being sensitive to your finding it so novel that a woman(!!!) designed it has nothing to do with political correctness. For goodness' sake, women are designing everywhere.

All the same, what do we have to do get this building transplanted to Adelaide? I'm thinking Waymouth St...

[Will]

Architecture has and currently still is a mainly male oriented domain, hence it is understandable to find it novel that a woman architect has designed such a significant tower.

It is exactly the same, as the novelty factor that has and still surrounds "our first female PM".

[stumpjumper]

...and there's a designing woman for you.

The point about the woman designing the building was just a point of interest. The first Jamaican architect to design a skyscraper would be worthy of the same notice.

There are plenty of women designing buildings. They've been doing it at least since Queen Hatshepsut. In the 'modern era', there have been plenty of successful female architects. That aspect of it isn't worth talking about, but the first skyscraper designed by a woman is nonetheless notable for that.

I've just returned from a little jaunt, and I'm sad to say, that there are beautiful/strange/crazy buildings everywhere... but here.



That one is in Nottingham, UK - just a little office development This sort of thing is springing up all over Europe.

[Will]

...

I've just returned from a little jaunt, and I'm sad to say, that there are beautiful/strange/crazy buildings everywhere... but here.

.

That's probably because the current development plan pretty much bans such buildings. If you read the development plan, the type of building supported can't be too tall, too interesting, too coloruful, but rather has to "blend in" with 19th century buildings in terms of height, scale, building materials, colours etc...

[spiller]

Ive had the pleasure of seeing Acqua in the flesh a few times and all I can say is the photos don't do it justice! Some of the highest open balconies in the world too! Although I will say from some angles it's quite unsuspecting and actually looks like a 1990s gold coast high rise.

[rhino]

I've just returned from a little jaunt, and I'm sad to say, that there are beautiful/strange/crazy buildings everywhere... but here.

I agree. My own little jaunt only took in New Zealand, but I have to say that Aukland and Wellington leave Adelaide for dead as far as density of hi-rise, and diversity of hi-rise architecture are concerned. Both feel like things are really happening there, and Wellington is only 390,000 people strong - about a third the population of Adelaide.

[stumpjumper]

Agreed. I think that we can retain Adelaide's character and charm while accommodating brilliant new architecture. It's a big subject, but it can be done. There are various effective strategies. Some cities use precincts - Paris is the outstanding example of that, and others use good design.