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

[spyguy]

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...pgJ2Tttcmft0hQ

I'd focus the criticism on the tower and the destruction of the Farwell Building before worrying about some tacky sign that wandering tourists will take photos of and post to FB/Twitter.

[xXSkyscraperDudeXx]

Originally Posted by spyguy

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...pgJ2Tttcmft0hQ

I'd focus the criticism on the tower and the destruction of the Farwell Building before worrying about some tacky sign that wandering tourists will take photos of and post to FB/Twitter.

Yuck & i thought Chicago's Ritz entrance was bad!

[denizen467]

Originally Posted by 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.

Heh heh, the Contour resemblance is a hilarious one, though with the vehicle analogy there may actually be substance and quality inside the car (not that I would know though).

Originally Posted by spyguy

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...pgJ2Tttcmft0hQ

I'd focus the criticism on the tower and the destruction of the Farwell Building before worrying about some tacky sign that wandering tourists will take photos of and post to FB/Twitter.

At first I thought that was the entrance to a halfway house or something ... then I noticed the logo! Looks like they just mechanically plaster those words about everywhere. Probably have them above the employees' loo, too.

Anyway spyguy, the last several comments have been directed more broadly than at just the sign in the driveway. (The sign is fun to talk about though.)

[Hayward]

That back entrance is hilarious. I bet its some ugly hallway with VCT floors and beige paint

[SamInTheLoop]

Originally Posted by 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.

Completely agree with all of this!!

[SamInTheLoop]

Originally Posted by spyguy

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...pgJ2Tttcmft0hQ

I'd focus the criticism on the tower and the destruction of the Farwell Building before worrying about some tacky sign that wandering tourists will take photos of and post to FB/Twitter.

Agreed. Not sure what else there is to say about the overall development. It's an utter joke, just like Lagrange himself and his entire portfolio of work (the only exceptions I can think of off the top of my head include that pair of west river north high-rises (which weren't his personal designs), some or most of his historic refurbishment/adaptive re-use work, and perhaps a couple of his unbuilt designs (X/O, another tower in the western reaches of river north)....what an awful, indefensible career and body of work....hopefully his new venture at HKS fails miserably (just as did his very brief stint at VOA soon after his own firm mercifully folded......enough already with this King of the Hacks, for we deserve much, much better in Chicago architecture and design...

[george]

Originally Posted by spyguy

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...pgJ2Tttcmft0hQ

I'd focus the criticism on the tower and the destruction of the Farwell Building before worrying about some tacky sign that wandering tourists will take photos of and post to FB/Twitter.

The Ritz and Farwell Building has been criticized to death. There's no point in flogging a dead horse. I found all the discussion on the tacky little door plaque very entertaining. The devil is in the details.

[ChiPhi]

Originally Posted by 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.

I kind of figured that most architecture nerds are also car nerds, so I love comparing this to the x-type which, while it may somewhat resemble the glorious mkII Jag or even an early XJ, is actually a front wheel drive Ford with some fancy wood and leather. I could not have thought of a better example. Bring on the Ian Callum designs already! Chicago needs this rennaissance more than some British/American/Indian car company.

[atlantaguy]

Originally Posted by george

The Ritz and Farwell Building has been criticized to death. There's no point in flogging a dead horse. I found all the discussion on the tacky little door plaque very entertaining. The devil is in the details.

Just as an fyi, the message on the tacky little door plaque is intended for employees. The same message is above every single employee entrance at every Ritz-Carlton worldwide, bar none.

They used to state " Remember, we are ladies and gentlemen, serving ladies and gentlemen." This is the updated, supposedly more PC version since Marriott bought out the original operation.

[george]

Originally Posted by atlantaguy

Just as an fyi, the message on the tacky little door plaque is intended for employees. The same message is above every single employee entrance at every Ritz-Carlton worldwide, bar none.

They used to state " Remember, we are ladies and gentlemen, serving ladies and gentlemen." This is the updated, supposedly more PC version since Marriott bought out the original operation.

That helps clarify that service door issue, thanks, atlantaguy.

The residents entrance pictured.

[denizen467]

^ So I guess they don't get the North Michigan Avenue address -- it's 118 East Erie?

A similar thing happened with the condo tower marketed as 600 North Fairbanks, which ended up with the address 250 East Ohio prominently displayed at the resident entrance. I'm not sure whether the 600 address functions in any way or not, though.

[Andrew|W]

Originally Posted by denizen467

^ So I guess they don't get the North Michigan Avenue address -- it's 118 East Erie?

A similar thing happened with the condo tower marketed as 600 North Fairbanks, which ended up with the address 250 East Ohio prominently displayed at the resident entrance. I'm not sure whether the 600 address functions in any way or not, though.

I think it has mainly to do with the fire and police departments, and where they have to go to find the entrance (and/or fire hydrant). At least that is my understanding of the issues my firm is having getting the client the address they want with one of our projects. The storefronts will most likely still have Michigan Ave. addresses.

[JDMChicago]

Originally Posted by denizen467

^ So I guess they don't get the North Michigan Avenue address -- it's 118 East Erie?

A similar thing happened with the condo tower marketed as 600 North Fairbanks, which ended up with the address 250 East Ohio prominently displayed at the resident entrance. I'm not sure whether the 600 address functions in any way or not, though.

I live in this building and although I'd love to have all my bills sent to the fictitious 250 e ohio, they arrive at 600 Fairbanks regularly.

[Joe Zekas]

Michigan Avenue and Ritz-Carlton Residences by YoChicago1, on Flickr

Wind conditions kept us from hovering.

[ThatOneGuy]

Despite the fact that there are unbearable amounts of these post modernist buildings in the US, this one seems to be marginally better than the majority, because it has some true aspects of neo-art deco in the windows and in the roof ornaments. Not as boring and ugly as typical postmodernist skyscrapers, especially those hideous ones from the 90s...(ugh)

[Hayward]

Well it certainly looks alright from above.

[Busy Bee]

At least it blends in.

[SamInTheLoop]

Surely this shot above has to rank highly in all of Joe Zekas' tremendous aerial heroics earlier this week: Finding an angle on this tower that somehow manages to be relatively inoffensive! Extraordinarily difficult acheivement.



Lucien Lagrange, hack immortal

[Joe Zekas]

Glimpse of Ritz-Carlton Residences by YoChicago1, on Flickr


Glimpse of Ritz-Carlton Residences by YoChicago1, on Flickr


Ritz-Carlton Residences, from west by YoChicago1, on Flickr

[Swicago Swi Sox]

It is too close to that Omni Hotel building...