The City and the River by Chipka
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Description
In some respect, every city has a Grand Central Station, or the remnants of one. Chicago is no exception. We have no Grand Central Station today: not in the way that we did, once upon a time. Union Station remains. It stands in skid-row elegance, squat and defiant amid skyscrapers built to recall waterfalls and futuristic things. Grand Central is gone the way of most Chicago treasures, though--somewhere--a brick or two may remain.
At a time—when railroads were king—Chicago’s Grand Central Station stood, prominently marked by distinctive arches (of varying design.) It survived until the twentieth century as a run-down, remnant of itself. The not-exactly-standardized arches were a hallmark of the building, and their shape was incorporated into the River City Condominium complex that now stands as the only surviving memory of that distinctive and venerable place. The condominium stack is distinct and venerable in its own right. It’s a cylindrical structure, once seen as oddly futuristic. Time has passed, however, and the complex is simply another piece of Chicago architecture scarcely recognized as innovative by Chicago residents. It is significant, however, in that it was built to carry the rhythm of Grand Central Station’s arches. It is a Chicago landmark (of sorts) built in homage to another landmark doomed to erasure.
The modern River City Condominium complex has been described as “Star Trek by way of a concrete aquarium,” and is recognized as bold and innovative, as it was designed and built during the beginning of the “cookie cutter” era of urban architecture. Now it is something of a footnote in Chicago history, as flashier (more anonymous) buildings have sprung up in more “desirable” areas of the city. It stands apart, however, as its architect (Bertrand Goldberg) a recognized visionary, saw something in Chicago and thus in Chicago’s history that deserved a bit of preservation.
I took this picture (as a companion to “Running…with Scissors” as I wandered with Corey, in search of bridges, industrial grunge, and an old power station (yet to be shown.) What began as a cloudy and featureless day evolved into a brilliant display of sunset coloration, and the image captured here, represents the first non-Chinatown color we’d experienced that day. I didn’t realize that River City was the nearest structure to the Roosevelt Street Bridge until I downloaded the picture from my camera. The gaudy, tall buildings in the background were what grabbed my attention first, but I’m glad that I captured River City as well, because even though Grand Central Station no longer stands, some echo of it remains in those flattened arch windows of the condominium complex itself, and from what I hear, the building is still incredibly stunning from inside.
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As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you're all having a great week.
Comments (23)
jac204
You make a fascinating city even more fascinating.
danapommet
A different skyline than the nornal shot but a very Chicago capture. Condos come in all shapes and sizes and this is very unique. Could tell it was a condo by the quality of the boats docked outside. Very well caught my friend. Dana
Sylvia
~Stunning Place~ Beautiful & Magical... and very good Restaurants :-} Thanks for sharing... FANTASTIC!!!
MRX3010
Great shot
beachzz
Another of your great city shots, along with your usual highly descriptive narrative. I missed so much on my visit; but guess you can LIVE in a city and miss a lot. I don't think you do, though!!
MrsRatbag
Wonderful view of the city!
thevolunteer
Great piece of work. I love the pov and depth of colors. Fascinating....Aloha
myrrhluz
I looked up the Grand Central Station and saw it's arches, clock tower, B&O, and a big advertisement for strata-dome dieseliners. I remember the River City Condominium complex from the architectural river tour Leslie and I took. It is interesting to see what was there before and to see the connections in shape it has with the past architecture. I like its presence here against the taller buildings, the strong columns of its reflection in the water and the setting sun shining off its windows. You captured a beautiful and dramatic quality of color and light. I like the streaked blues and beginning of pinks in the sky, the dark black of the reflections of the buildings, the line of green trees, and the variegated buildings with the a very conspicuously red one. We have one of those very red buildings in San Antonio, (known as the red enchilada) but it sits very differently in our spread-out cityscape. Beautiful image and very interesting narrative!
minos_6
Very nicely captured, showing the contrast between nature and construction (both new and old). Excellent capture!
durleybeachbum
Well I need to see inside it now! I hope there is some way you can get in there and take some pics! A most interesting photo.
whaleman
Interesting how small remnants of a time can remain still!
Bothellite
And isn't it interesting that 'railroad' is coming back full circle. It's amazing that trains are the most efficient, cheapest, best way to travel throughout the world - coming soon to an America near you (us). Neat piece. Thanks. Wonder what Chicago plans.
kgb224
Stunning capture my friend.
jmb007
bonne photo!!
helanker
I wish I could sit on your shoulder like a parrot, when you walk through this city. I am sure I could learn how to see better....or rather more. I love this capture and the beautiful River City looks awesome. How strange to see the building to the right, the white one. That makes one look once again to make sure this is not a VUE creation, where one forgot to use texture on that building LOL! It does look unfinnished :)
tennesseecowgirl
Impressive capture... I love all the colors in this.. and the sky really sets it off.. Have a nice weekend~
Meisiekind
What a glorious composition Chip! I really love how you included the river in this magnificent cityscape! It just makes it more earthy and less Star Trek! (which I'm not sure is a good thing for you!!! lol...) Chicago is a beautiful city... I think... although I do prefer the vastness of a desert! The Sears Tower looks majectic here guarding it's smaller cousins!!! Lovely!
SIGMAWORLD
Great shot!
flavia49
I love your Chicago! and your colors of Her/He/It!!
sandra46
outstanding image super fantastic work!!! the sky is really beautiful, and the skyline looks even too great to be real! but it is! superb postwork.
auntietk
Marvellous image! You make me want to come back. :) I looked up the old Grand Central, checked out the arches, and then went through my own Chicago files and found a bunch more that are much like them. Fascinating! Thanks!
marybelgium
superbe !
lucindawind
what a spectacular view and shot !