On the Wrong Side of the John Hancock Center

Recently I happened to be at the right place at the right time.  That means inside the 100-story John Hancock Center (875 North Michigan Avenue) when some windows were being replaced.

I had the chance to stick my head out into the breeze on a cloudy, wet day and feel the thrill of vertigo in my stomach and head.  As much as I love being up high, I have a fear of edges, so it took a lot for me to put my beloved Canon and my CrappyCameraPhone™ at risk.

I still get a little bit of queasiness when I look at this CrappyCameraPhone™ picture looking straight down the side of the building.  That horizontal member that tapers inward toward the right is one of the building's famous cross braces.

After 40 years, the building exterior could use a good power washing.

From my experience being on the unsheltered roofs of buildings like the Carew Tower in Cincinnati, the G.E. Building in New York, and Chicago's own Shoreham, I can tell you it's not as windy as people assume it would be.  People who don't live in skyscrapers have all these crazy notions about tall buildings.  About this time last year, emergency officials in Houston, Texas were telling people that for every ten stories up you go in a building, the affects of a hurricane are intensified by one Category.  Really?  So Hurricane Ike hit the top floor of Houston's JPMorgan Chase Tower as a category 12 storm?  I don't think so.

Looking east

It was a little windy being out on the edge of the John Hancock Center, but it wasn't any more windy than it was when I went down to the surface an hour later.

Looking west

Looking up from the gaping hole in the side of the building showed... nothing.  Really.  Since the building tapers away and was receding in distance, too, there wasn't anything to see but the bellies of grey clouds.  Disappointing.

But I did take a video when I was hanging out there.  It's probably one of the world's least interesting pieces of videography, but I include it here in the interest of completeness.

Building Spotlight: Prague's Astronomical Clock

There aren't a lot of cities where one of the biggest tourist attractions is a work of science.  But historically speaking, Prague is a little more enlightened than most cities.

One of the must-sees when visiting the city is the Astronomical Clock.  This clock on the side of Prague City Hall shows the position of the sun and the moon, the current time, sunrise and sunset, ancient Czech time, the zodiac, and a dozen other functions.  Every hour, animated figures of the Apostles march around the top of the device as the hour chimes.

More Prague buildings here.
More European buildings here.

Slice of Life: No Way Out

Don't let the cheery illuminated Exit sign fool you.  This wall at the end of a corridor at the Asian Civilizations Museum (1 Empress Place) in Singapore means business when it says "No Way Out."  Seems appropriate enough for a Friday the 13th.

More Singapore buildings.

Building Spotlight: The Golden Poop

There's a myth amongst Japanese fans in America about a mystical building in Tokyo that looks like a giant golden poop.  Well, here it is.

It's called Asahi Super Dry Hall (1-23-1 Azumabashi, Tokyo), and is named after the beer Super Dry by the Asahi brewing company.  It's not supposed to be a turd, though.  It's supposed to be a golden flame, and representative of the opening of a can of beer.  The windows in the building back up this notion, since they're shaped like little bubbles.  The gold building next to it is the Asahi Beer Tower, which is also designed to look like a beer.  In this case, a frosty mug of brew with a foamy head.

But people will continue to think of the smaller building as a golden poo, because that's just how people are.  Like the way people in Hong Kong refer to Jardine House (1 Connaught Place, Hong Kong) as the "House of a thousand arseholes" even though they're meant to resemble portholes in reference to the ships on Victoria Harbour.

More Tokyo buildings here
More Asian buildings here
More Chinese buildings here

Slice of Life: The Low Countries at Their Best

Since the Renaissance, artists have flocked to the Low Countries (Belgium, The Netherlands, and Luxembourg) to practice their craft.  Scenes like this show the Old World at its best.  An artist paints the Grand Place (Grand Market in English, Grote Markt in Dutch) in Brussels, Belgium while flocks of tourists mix with locals admiring the plants for sale.

More Brussels buildings
More Belgian architecture

One Way to Avoid the Splat of Birds

As long as people have been putting using glass in buildings, birds have been smacking into it.  Sometimes the buildings are too tall, or in a centuries-old flight path, and sometimes the birds are just ... well... bird-brained.

This art school in Chicago put stickers of birds on its windows to maybe give the birds a clue that the wild blue yonder doesn't continue through the glass.  I'm not an expert on birds, but I wonder if the silhouettes chosen are predatory birds, meant to scare other birds away. They kind of look like owls to me.

More Chicago buildings here.

Building Spotlight: The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge

Charleston, South Carolina is renowned for its historic architecture.  The shotgun houses, the painted ladies, the gingerbread woodwork, and even those little outbuildings that were once used as kitchens.

But getting to Charleston takes you across a piece of amazing modern architecture.  You might not expect it, but the Cooper River is spanned by a thoroughly modern cable-stayed bridge.

The Arthur Ravenel Junior Bridge has two central diamonds from which cables fan out to support the center span and the approach ramps on either side.  Its main span is a massive 1,546 feet long, making it the longest cable-stayed bridge in the western hemisphere.  Unfortunately, it also means that it's very difficult to take a good picture of the bridge since it's hard to give it a sense of scale and also fit a good portion of it into frame.

More about the Arthur Ravenel Junior Bridge here.
More Charleston, South Carolina architecture here.

TweetEcho: October 26-November 8, 2009

For those of you who don't subscribe to our Twitter feed, here are the items we tweeted in the last week or so:

1. Added seven new Vancouver, BC wallpapers:http://www.glasssteelandsto...http://bit.ly/1ww1YP9:35 AM Nov 6th from Facebook
2. Added seven new Vancouver, BC wallpapers to the free computer desktop wallpaper section: http://j.mp/3p8Qs99:34 AM Nov 6th from bit.ly
3. http://bit.ly/14AkP9 http://bit.ly/1jdXSG8:18 AM Nov 6th from Facebook
4. Slice of Life: The Outdoor Store http://j.mp/3aoZmg8:16 AM Nov 6th from bit.ly
5. Building Spotlight: One PPG Place http://j.mp/4BUY5v8:03 AM Nov 6th from bit.ly
6. http://bit.ly/2YNJH1 http://bit.ly/itlSO8:03 AM Nov 6th from Facebook
7. http://bit.ly/13OcaM http://bit.ly/tTF7N7:43 AM Nov 6th from Facebook
8. Linked Hybrid Building Named Best Building of 2009http://j.mp/1kmrpf7:42 AM Nov 6th from bit.ly
9. http://bit.ly/eAzJy http://bit.ly/1nZDFg6:59 AM Nov 6th from Facebook
10. Animation: Seattle's Next Big Earthquake http://j.mp/1MdEZu6:57 AM Nov 6th from bit.ly
11. http://bit.ly/6v0ar http://bit.ly/1hHaza6:52 AM Nov 6th from Facebook
12. SOM Vision Will Expand Downtown Beijinghttp://j.mp/2w6LAR6:51 AM Nov 6th from bit.ly
13. http://bit.ly/2z1TW7 http://bit.ly/4jwgph6:28 AM Nov 6th from Facebook
14. A Taste of Chicago in Tokyo http://j.mp/3HlEcl6:27 AM Nov 6th from bit.ly
15. I posted 64 photos on Facebook in the album "Vancouver, British Columbia" http://bit.ly/1a1TXZ7:08 PM Nov 5th from Facebook
16. Added 64 new photos of Vancouver, British Columbia to the Global Architecture photo pool on Flickr: http://j.mp/YZCBu6:58 PM Nov 5th from bit.ly
17. A list of the 20 tallest skyscrapers that are on hold because of the economy: http://j.mp/2R1gLO3:11 PM Nov 5th from bit.ly
18. The Chicago Tribune reviews one of the city's newest skyscrapers, Aqua: http://j.mp/tmmuR1:43 PM Nov 4th from bit.ly
19. New 2010 London Architecture calendars are now available:http://j.mp/3Ezybm2:19 PM Nov 3rd from bit.ly
20. New 2010 Atlanta architecture calendars are now available:http://j.mp/26ihmO2:06 PM Nov 3rd from bit.ly
21. New 2010 Asian architecture calendars are now available:http://j.mp/O0Zak1:57 PM Nov 3rd from bit.ly
22. 2010 Minneapolis-St. Paul architecture calendars are now available: http://j.mp/2Y97yR1:46 PM Nov 3rd from bit.ly
23. 2010 Chinese architecture calendars are now available:http://j.mp/2QN2It1:34 PM Nov 3rd from bit.ly
24. 2010 Chicago Architecture calendars are now available:http://j.mp/1bH8oN1:23 PM Nov 3rd from bit.ly
25. 2010 New York Architecture calendars: http://j.mp/4qzaQ31:12 PM Nov 3rd from bit.ly
26. Now available: 2010 Los Angeles architecture calendars:http://j.mp/WJOUJ12:49 PM Nov 3rd from bit.ly
27. New: 2010 Tokyo Architecture calendars: http://j.mp/4za0YQ12:27 PM Nov 3rd from bit.ly
28. Added The Granville Street Bridge, Vancouver, British Columbia to Glass Steel and Stone http://j.mp/1NynDm11:20 AM Nov 3rd from bit.ly
29. Added Granville Square : 200 Granville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia to Glass Steel and Stone http://j.mp/1WtJgZ11:19 AM Nov 3rd from bit.ly
30. Added Granville Island Hotel : 1253 Johnston Street, Vancouver, British Columbia to Glass Steel and Stonehttp://j.mp/4iV9QR11:19 AM Nov 3rd from bit.ly
31. Added Granville Island Brewery : 1441 Cartwright Street, Vancouver, British Columbia to Glass Steel and Stonehttp://j.mp/4kXFCP11:19 AM Nov 3rd from bit.ly
32. Added The Granville : 570 Granville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia to Glass Steel and Stone http://j.mp/3CIt7U11:19 AM Nov 3rd from bit.ly
33. Added Grant Thornton Place : 333 Seymour Street, Vancouver, British Columbia to Glass Steel and Stone http://j.mp/4jMDlY11:18 AM Nov 3rd from bit.ly
34. Added The Grace Residences : 1280 Richards Street, Vancouver, British Columbia to Glass Steel and Stonehttp://j.mp/2ZSBwa11:18 AM Nov 3rd from bit.ly
35. Added The Governors Tower : 388 Drake Street, Vancouver, British Columbia to Glass Steel and Stone http://j.mp/4n8Lt611:18 AM Nov 3rd from bit.ly
36. Added The Good Earth Building : 595 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia to Glass Steel and Stone http://j.mp/2bBmBS11:17 AM Nov 3rd from bit.ly
37. Added The Georgian Towers : 1450 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia to Glass Steel and Stonehttp://j.mp/3AXoLW11:16 AM Nov 3rd from bit.ly
38. Added The Georgian Court Hotel : 733 Beatty Street, Vancouver, British Columbia to Glass Steel and Stonehttp://j.mp/10897J11:12 AM Nov 3rd from bit.ly
39. Added The Flagship : 8 Smithe Mews, Vancouver, British Columbia to Glass Steel and Stone http://j.mp/1Pbdl34:23 PM Nov 2nd from bit.ly
40. Added The Flatiron Building : 1277 Melville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia to Glass Steel and Stone http://j.mp/3zlzYR4:22 PM Nov 2nd from bit.ly
41. Added The Foundry : 1833 Crowe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia to Glass Steel and Stone http://j.mp/bnJag4:22 PM Nov 2nd from bit.ly
42. Added The Four Seasons Hotel : 791 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia to Glass Steel and Stonehttp://j.mp/28bRxJ4:22 PM Nov 2nd from bit.ly
43. Added The FutureShop Building : 796 Granville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia to Glass Steel and Stonehttp://j.mp/1YSosq4:22 PM Nov 2nd from bit.ly
44. Added The George : 1420 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia to Glass Steel and Stone http://j.mp/dIxCZ4:22 PM Nov 2nd from bit.ly
45. Added 1281 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia toGlass Steel and Stone http://j.mp/3R3c9w4:21 PM Nov 2nd from bit.ly
46. Added First Baptist Church : 969 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia to Glass Steel and Stone http://j.mp/3A9hL11:57 PM Nov 2nd from bit.ly
47. Added Firenze 2 : 688 Abbott Street, Vancouver, British Columbia to Glass Steel and Stone http://j.mp/1CJphp1:56 PM Nov 2nd from bit.ly
48. Added Firenze 1 : 58 Keefer Place, Vancouver, British Columbia to Glass Steel and Stone http://j.mp/4yw69r1:56 PM Nov 2nd from bit.ly
49. Added the Federation of Canadian Artists Gallery : 1241 Cartwright Street, Vancouver, BC to Glass Steel and Stonehttp://j.mp/3h9nVy1:56 PM Nov 2nd from bit.ly
50. Added the Vancouver Federal Office Tower : 350 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia to Glass Steel and Stonehttp://j.mp/1rjWKT12:51 PM Nov 2nd from bit.ly
51. Added the False Creek Yacht Club : 1661 Granville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia to Glass Steel and Stonehttp://j.mp/11JOps12:51 PM Nov 2nd from bit.ly
52. Added the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel : 900 Canada Place Way, Vancouver, British Columbia to Glass Steel and Stonehttp://j.mp/qXeY512:24 PM Nov 2nd from bit.ly
53. Added the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel : 299 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia to Glass Steel and Stonehttp://j.mp/3Osa6d12:24 PM Nov 2nd from bit.ly
54. The latest Freedom Tower (1 World Trade Center) construction photos: http://j.mp/2OFbGm7:00 AM Oct 30th from bit.ly
55. Don't believe Emporis or Wikipedia. These are the real stats for the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver: http://j.mp/T28TV2:41 PM Oct 29th from bit.ly
56. Added The Executive Hotel Vintage Park : 1379 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia :: Glass Steel and Stonehttp://j.mp/3uqIr42:37 PM Oct 29th from bit.ly
57. Added Espana 2 : 188 Keefer Place, Vancouver, British Columbia :: Glass Steel and Stone http://j.mp/4pcFp72:36 PM Oct 29th from bit.ly
58. Added Espana 1 : 689 Abbott Street, Vancouver, British Columbia :: Glass Steel and Stone http://j.mp/2t9kar2:36 PM Oct 29th from bit.ly
59. Added The Erickson : 1500 Homer Mews, Vancouver, British Columbia to: Glass Steel and Stone http://j.mp/1QFSa02:36 PM Oct 29th from bit.ly
60. Added The Empire Landmark Hotel : 1400 Robson Street, Vancouver, British Columbia to Glass Steel and Stonehttp://j.mp/2jysDY1:13 PM Oct 29th from bit.ly
61. Added Emily Carr University of Art and Design : 1399 Johnston Street, Vancouver, British Columbia to Glass Steel and Stone http://j.mp/1xF8n12:57 PM Oct 29th from bit.ly
62. Added Emerald West : 717 Jervis Street, Vancouver, British Columbia to Glass Steel and Stone http://j.mp/2J7aYo12:56 PM Oct 29th from bit.ly
63. Added The Electra (Formerly the BC Hydro Building) : 989 Nelson Street, Vancouver, British Columbia:http://j.mp/3a63Pk4:29 PM Oct 28th from bit.ly
64. Added The Edgewater Casino : 750 Pacific Boulevard, Vancouver, British Columbia : http://j.mp/1FzMMv3:48 PM Oct 28th from bit.ly
65. Added East Asiatic House : 1201 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia: http://j.mp/4EpCmw2:57 PM Oct 28th from bit.ly
66. Artists plan to encase vacant Detroit home in ice:http://j.mp/4of74411:32 AM Oct 27th from bit.ly
67. Added nine more Vancouver wallpapers to the free computer desktop wallpaper section: http://j.mp/3p8Qs94:02 PM Oct 26th from bit.ly
68. We've just posted seven hundred -- yes, 700 -- computer desktop wallpapers to our web site for you to download free:http://j.mp/3p8Qs92:56 PM Oct 26th from bit.ly
69. We've launched a companion blog for the web site. The Global Architecture Blog is now online: http://j.mp/3mF9rp1:00 PM Oct 26th from bit.ly
70. I posted 105 photos on Facebook in the album "Vancouver, British Columbia" http://bit.ly/1a1TXZ8:00 AM Oct 26th from Facebook
71. 105 new photos of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada have been added to the Global Architecture photo pool on Flickr:http://j.mp/YZCBu10:24 PM Oct 25th from bit.ly