Contextually Curved
[333 W. Wacker Drive (1983) Kohn Pedersen Fox, architects /Image & Artwork: designslinger]
333 W. Wacker Drive has been called Chicago's first postmodern structure and in polls
done by the Chicago Tribune the building has been voted "People's Favorite" several times. Lead architect William Pedersen of Kohn Pedersen Fox, has said that it's not postmodern but "contextual architecture" meaning that the design was conceived to fit into the context of the site, which it does so successfully.
[333 W. Wacker Drive, Chicago /Images & Artwork: designslinger]
First let's start with that site. If you were to look at a plot plan, you would see that the
street grid here forms an almost perfect 45 degree triangle with the diagonal edge facing the Chicago River. The angle is created by the confluence of the main branch of the river which flows east/west splitting into north and south branches at this intersection. The building lot also sits where Wacker Drive changes from running along the south bank of the river to its east bank as the waterway heads in a southerly direction.
[333 W. Wacker Drive, July 10, 2010 /Images & Artwork: designslinger]
In 1979 when Pedersen and his team were asked to design a building for this irregular lot
they saw a curve in that triangle which lead to one of the most dramatic, and simply elegant building fronts in the city, if not the country. It's no wonder that it regularly turns up on people's favorites lists.
Posted by designslinger at 8/5/2010 1:57 AM 
Categories: Architecture
Tags: Chicago Wacker Drive Kohn Pedersen Fox Chicago River
Categories: Architecture
Tags: Chicago Wacker Drive Kohn Pedersen Fox Chicago River
the reason why 333 w wacker is a favorite of so many people is because it really is an INTERESTING building. it looks different each time you pass it. i don't generally like modern structures, but i love this one!
When an architect gets it right it doesn't matter if it's new or old, just good!