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The Chicago Spire, virtually
It takes some imagination to see the gleaming, sky penetrating, twisting, futuristic architectural form at 400 N Lake Shore Drive, because, as you can read in this week's feature, the Chicago Spire was never built. But that's not to say the Chicago Spire does not exist. In fact, it does, everywhere there is an Internet connection. It exists virtually at what might be one of the most beautiful and tasteful real estate websites you will ever lay your modestly mortgaged eyes on, thechicagospire.com. The website uses the present tense to convince us that the building "is a unique collection of residences on the shores of Lake Michigan." If one just believes in it, that is.
It's easy on the eyes and informative about the ambitious plans for the Spire with photos and information on the international "exhibitions" that made up the traveling Chicago Spire Roadshow. The website also, in breathless architecture critic-friendly PR prose, hammers home in the "Imagination" section, the point that the Spire was meant to be a work of art.
"In this twisting soaring design, Calatrava has addressed some of the most pressing questions of life in the 21st Century. What is the meaning of individuality? What is the meaning of family? What is our relationship with landscape, nature?"
There are spire inspiring images from nature and an interactive floor plan plus tons of background on the architect. There is a lot to delight the mind at thechicagospire.com—one might confuse the website with a public arts project or museum exhibition.
But its the animated Spire video that really speaks to me, with its sweeping angles we almost approach the building as if we are traveling in a smoothly accelerating jetpack. We get a good look at the Spire, even how it would have sat on Lake Shore Drive amid its diminutive (just plain adorable!) neighbors. We may never live in it, or step into it for a cocktail party, but if anyone ever asks, we have seen the Chicago Spire.
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