CHICAGO | The Ritz-Carlton Residences | 495 FT / 151 M | 40 FLOORS | T/O

[SamInTheLoop]

Originally Posted by the urban politician

^ Films serve little other purpose than to entertain.

Buildings take on a much, much, much greater role for society than movies. We live in them. We work in them. We conduct business in them.

You can't compare them both.

First, your opening statement is far from true (for a certain type of film you could be close, but still you'd need to ignore economic activity).

For the purposes of this dicussion, let's assume your second statement is accurate. In that case, all the more critical to get the new development of structures right - in all aspects, including their design and architecture contribution to their immediate urban environment, as well as to the fields and arts - of architecture and design.....the Ritz is an abject failure on both counts....Sometimes I feel we critique on such a curve ("it could have been a lot worse....look at the Elysian, look at Grand Plaza", etc). Talk about low standards and expectations!!

[Hayward]

Originally Posted by denizen467

There's one interesting part of the building I haven't seen photographed here yet, as it was finished so recently. The driveway off Erie leading to the vehicle elevators is kind of a rare sight; the shiny pair of elevator doors far down the driveway are virtually one of a kind among downtown highrises, and the driveway itself has some kind of inlaid stone along the middle. (Sorry, closer inspection directly from the sidewalk would have provided a better description.) I wonder why there isn't an awning covering most of it.

What are those elevator doors? Seems like they would have opted for something nicer. I realize these are pretty standard for car lifts, but you can swap out for some really nice doors, or just skin them in something like stainless. Maybe I'm not looking close enough, but they look rather utilitarian. I presume they'll actually be the first thing most residents see when they return home.

[denizen467]

I think they are indeed in stainless - give it a look on your way home some day and let us know what you think. Good point, though, that as a welcome-home to your multimillion-dollar condo, one would expect something substantially nicer. These would maybe be more "Ramada Residences"-worthy than "Ritz-Carlton Residences"-worthy.

[george]

7-18

[Redkey]

Originally Posted by george

7-18

What the hell is that? Am i looking at the interiors of a McDonalds PlayPlace in Kuwait?

[headcase]

Originally Posted by Redkey

What the hell is that? Am i looking at the interiors of a McDonalds PlayPlace in Kuwait?

Not sure if serious......

Originally Posted by denizen467

There's one interesting part of the building I haven't seen photographed here yet, as it was finished so recently. The driveway off Erie leading to the vehicle elevators is kind of a rare sight; the shiny pair of elevator doors far down the driveway are virtually one of a kind among downtown highrises, and the driveway itself has some kind of inlaid stone along the middle. (Sorry, closer inspection directly from the sidewalk would have provided a better description.) I wonder why there isn't an awning covering most of it.

SSDD

[george]

8-1

Those shiny parking garage elevator doors




I found this signage amusing

[chrisvfr800i]

Originally Posted by george

8-1

Those shiny parking garage elevator doors




I found this signage amusing

No they didn't!!

[xXSkyscraperDudeXx]

Originally Posted by george

8-1

Those shiny parking garage elevator doors




I found this signage amusing

This might be the worst entrance I've seen to a what 5 Star hotel? More like 3 Star...

[Andrew|W]

Originally Posted by xXSkyscraperDudeXx

This might be the worst entrance I've seen to a what 5 Star hotel? More like 3 Star...

Except that it isn't a hotel, but I think your point still works.

It is almost comical how sticking a fancy sign above a service door is supposed to transform it into an elegant entrance. I can only hope that the irony was intentional.

[SamInTheLoop]

Originally Posted by Redkey

What the hell is that? Am i looking at the interiors of a McDonalds PlayPlace in Kuwait?

I knew exactly what you mean. That about sums up the design ethos and talent of Lucien LaGrange. Pure, unfiltered cartoon purveyor of hackiness.

[ChiPhi]

Originally Posted by george

8-1

They totally understand class and elegance. Those bare metal doors suddenly become elegant and beautiful! These guys really know what they are doing! With a starting price around 2 million, I'll buy two immediately.

[woodrow]

I do not understand that sign. Set aside the tackiness of the statement, why would they put that over a service entrance? That isn't the entrance to the residential lobby, no way no how. So why the sign? cheekiness? Maybe tenants must bring their dogs in via that entrance. Not unheard of for condo buildings to restrict pets to service elevators/entrances.

[rascacielos]

It's directed at the employees. It's meant to make them feel like they work at the best place. Not saying they actually feel that way, but that's the idea.

[chrisvfr800i]

Originally Posted by woodrow

I do not understand that sign. Set aside the tackiness of the statement, why would they put that over a service entrance? That isn't the entrance to the residential lobby, no way no how. So why the sign? cheekiness? Maybe tenants must bring their dogs in via that entrance. Not unheard of for condo buildings to restrict pets to service elevators/entrances.

I think the car elevators are valet-operated, so I guess these doors are for residents who drop off or pick up their Bentleys.

It just seems so "Beverly Hills" to me....like a celebrity's sycophant chasing behind to remind them how beautiful they are. I don't think this sign represents Chicago values very well. LOL!!

[mousquet]

In fact, I think post-modernism is questioned again in that building. It definitely doesn't make sense in any case. I swear I find it useful for low-rises sometimes, when it's soft (no useless tacky ornaments) and the surroundings justify it, like when there's something literally medieval around (which is rare in Chicago). But high-rises should keep going further into modernism after all.

However, I keep thinking the overall exterior material and finishing are rather fine, aren't they? I'm not asking about that stupid sign above, but about the overall building. It's okay, certainly doesn't put the neighborhood to shame. The concept itself might feel like some kind of a bad taste to many architecture nerds, but it's just the feeling about post-modernism that is all subjective and depends on the context.

[denizen467]

Originally Posted by Andrew|W

It is almost comical how sticking a fancy sign above a service door is supposed to transform it into an elegant entrance. I can only hope that the irony was intentional.

Originally Posted by woodrow

I do not understand that sign. Set aside the tackiness of the statement, why would they put that over a service entrance? ... Maybe tenants must bring their dogs in via that entrance. Not unheard of for condo buildings to restrict pets to service elevators/entrances.

Originally Posted by ChiPhi

They totally understand class and elegance. Those bare metal doors suddenly become elegant and beautiful! These guys really know what they are doing! With a starting price around 2 million, I'll buy two immediately.

Signs like these are common in Chicago hotels. Like rascacielos said, and judging by the service-style nature of the doors, it's to motivate the employees and kind of alleviate the fact that the "stage entrance" (another phrase common on these signs) is kind of scummy and often on a back alley or something. After all, you've got over-the-top luxe entrances with flowers, water features, etc. for guests in many 5-star hotels, so the stark contrast with employee entrances practically reeks of 18th-century lord-versus-servant quarters in the old world. It's unavoidable now due to economics, so the signs kind of soften the harshness a bit. To some extent you can fault the hotels for not at least dignifying the entrances with nicer doors and the like, but presumably employees would be more interested in nicer break rooms and so on anyway.

Anyway, you could practically make a small photo album of similar signs from other places in the city. I'm pretty sure there's one at the Sheraton on Lower North Water. Trump could well have one on Lower Wabash. This Ritz one is the nicest I've ever seen, presumably because it faces the same space where the "guests" are going by in their Bimmers. For the same reason, they use the words "Ladies and Gentlemen" instead of the more common "employees" or "cast members". Also, Ritz and Trump, being rare "hotel" (i.e. serviced) buildings where you actually have permanent residents, are more likely to dress these employee entrances up a bit more, as Ritz (feebly) attempted.

[SamInTheLoop]

Regardless of to whom it's directed, it's a truly tacky detail, and wouldn't surprise me if mandated by Lagrange himself, as it has his name written all over it. He's probably wanted to adorn all of his cartoonish residential projects in Chicago with such schlock....

[denizen467]

^ Not to defend Lagrange, but I think organizations like Ritz can be tacky too. There's a point where a luxury brand has so much public cachet that they decide it's profitable to gun for the "aspring" luxury consumer, and they end up becoming a cartoonish version of their former selves. You've seen it all the time with apparel and accessories. Just as one example that comes to mind, Brooks Brothers advertising looks as though they believe customers really think that upon dressing this way they are soon going to be friends with lords and ladies in English country estates or go hunting with dogs near New Canaan or something -- hello, you're a fat accountant from the western suburbs who likes arena football, deal with your pedestrian existence dude. (Not speaking to you Sam or anyone here, obviously!) I remember eating at either the Ritz or Four Seasons not long ago (first time in many years) and asking the somewhat self-satisfied waiter about their selection of a certain basic category of beverage, and not only did he not understand the basics on the subject, he only replied "We're Ritz [or Four Seasons], we have only the best" with a completely straight face. (And it even turned out they certainly did not have the best.)

So, overall I think the blame gets spread around on this one - the Lagrange punching bag should have a small Ritz punching bag attached to it.

[Standpoor]

So you're saying this project is the Jaguar X type of condos. Enough tacky detail to convince some that they are not driving a Contour.
source wikipedia