Quote:
Originally Posted by Skyguy_7
Great assessment. Pretty spot on, IMHO. Worth a repost  |
The main difference is that structural expressionism and modernism are the correct form of design in a world where we have miracle materials like steel, glass, aluminium, etc and the ability to use these materials to create extraordinary buildings like 150 N Riverside that are mainly a product necessity, not frivolous decoration. Chicago is something of a buttoned down town, but it's our heritage. We invented entire categories of design and we are partial to them just as a Parisian might be partial to second empire style. We are also partial to efficiency and making money, two things Modernism does very well. We don't have the land values to justify ornate design gestures, we mainly need to make the land pay.