Atlantic Wharf (née Russia Wharf) | Atlantic Ave | Waterfront

Re: Atlantic Wharf (formerly Russia Wharf)

My objections are more academic than practical. Even if this building had the best streetwall/life ever it would still be ruined by the Greenway sitting there. In fact if a tower went up right across the street it would actually help the old wharf buildings more since it would force the pedestrian to be closer to the building, not standing way back and seeing an unbalanced pairing.
 
Re: Atlantic Wharf (formerly Russia Wharf)

What's so great about the Holyoke Center? As far as I can tell, it's just a modernist 60s building that happened to be designed by a famous architect.

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Re: Atlantic Wharf (formerly Russia Wharf)

I've always been a fan of the Holyoke Center. I think it is one of the very few Brutalist buildings that fits well into an urban context and it's plaza is one that actually enhances the area rather than adding a wind swept wasteland into a neighborhood. It doesn't matter who designed it, it matters that it works.
 
Re: Atlantic Wharf (formerly Russia Wharf)

I dont think there is anything particularly great about the design of Holyoke Center. I think it's successful in spite of some obvious shortcomings, IMO. It's plaza, full of tables and chairs, fills an otherwise unmet need in the area for an outdoor public seating area. It also happens to be occupied in warm weather by some colorful local characters.

The building itself has always struck me as dingy and out-of-place.
 
Re: Atlantic Wharf (formerly Russia Wharf)

In a lot of ways, Holyoke Center is Sert at his worst. It's a really uninspiring building. Somehow, it behaves well in its context. The Holyoke Street side isn't as engaging as the Dunster Street side, but Mass Ave is enriched by the little plaza.
 
Re: Atlantic Wharf (formerly Russia Wharf)

ablarc said:
It may end up being soulless anyway --even with the old brick facade. As I recall, a previous ground floor occupant was a sailmaker. You can imagine he didn't generate much street life (though it was atmospheric that his business was nautical in this place.
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There was also a large restaurant/bar called 3 cheers in the ground floor of one of these buildings. That being said, I suppose the ability of these buildings to create some feeling of urban vitality will be hindered by them being sandwiched between the Greenway and the Federal Reserve Plaza.
 
Re: Atlantic Wharf (formerly Russia Wharf)

vanshnookenraggen said:
Ruining the building to keep the facade is an empty gesture and not historic preservation. If you want to build a tower that compliments the base then go ahead but this feels more like the architect got pissed off they had to accommodate history.
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How do you feel about Hearst Tower in New York?

Edit: Nevermind, I just saw you already answered that a couple pages ago.

Regardless, thanks for the pics!
 
Re: Atlantic Wharf (formerly Russia Wharf)

Love it or hate it the Atlantic Wharf project evokes a response from its viewer. Isn't that what successful architecture should do? Atlantic Wharf incorporates many new facets which we in Boston are not accustomed to, and that's a good thing, IMO. Let's face it, Atlantic Wharf does not appeal to everyone's aesthetic sense. That being said, it is however, provocative and presents us with a new, brash and bold architectural presence for a stodgy old Boston, and for that reason I love it. This building stands very proud, and with its light pole it reminds me of a sentinel standing guard with his spear over the waterfront area.
 
Re: Atlantic Wharf (formerly Russia Wharf)

brash and bold are certainly not terms I would apply to this building. Stale, hackneyed, economical....


edit: that said, I appreciate your optimism.
 
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Re: Atlantic Wharf (formerly Russia Wharf)

i was shocked last night walking past this building after a fun (see ridiculous) night because you can not see the tower from the street. I was excited to walk past it on my way to south station and lo and behold when you are on the same side of the street as the building you can not see the tower. it still feels like the old warehouse building is the same size as it always was. i am normally iffy about the whole facendectomy thing because i feel it is just pretending to save how a building looks and feels from the street, but in this instance i feel like it actually worked at maintaining the old building, at least from up close.
 
Re: Atlantic Wharf (formerly Russia Wharf)

This building stands very proud, and with its light pole it reminds me of a sentinel standing guard with his spear over the waterfront area.
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When you say that, I instead think of an overpaid Boston cop directing detour traffic around a roadside pork project (the granddaddy of em all, the Greenway!).
 
Re: Atlantic Wharf (formerly Russia Wharf)

The entire strip of the Greenway overtime could become priceless with Russia Wharf, IC, IP, High Street. This has a shot of being the best strip of Real Estate in this country. Especially the add-ons to Harbor Garage, South Station, Congress St.
 
Re: Atlantic Wharf (formerly Russia Wharf)

TheRifleman said:
The entire strip of the Greenway overtime could become priceless with Russia Wharf, IC, IP, High Street. This has a shot of being the best strip of Real Estate in this country. Especially the add-ons to Harbor Garage, South Station, Congress St.
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I would certainly agree that it has the potential of becoming one of the best strips of real estate in the country, at least. I'm hoping that over time when the greenway is better planned and has grown out and with major new and modern construction abutting the greenway that we end up with something to be very proud of. At present however, what casts a shadow of doubt over all of that is the reluctance of its overseers, reluctant in not being bold and daring, and of course the tiny minds at the BRA, NIMBY's, shadow people, and the biggest drag of them all being the economy. We can only hope that time will prove all the naysayers wrong.
 
Re: Atlantic Wharf (formerly Russia Wharf)

TheRifleman said:
The entire strip of the Greenway overtime could become priceless with Russia Wharf, IC, IP, High Street. This has a shot of being the best strip of Real Estate in this country. Especially the add-ons to Harbor Garage, South Station, Congress St.
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It wouldn't even be the best strip of Real Estate in a two block radius. (Both State Street and Broad Street would still beat it.)
 
Re: Atlantic Wharf (formerly Russia Wharf)

I have to disagree with Statler. This stretch of the Greenway truly has the potential to be one of the most prestigious addresses in the country. Of course, it would take the work of brilliant planners and committed public officials, and a mastermind PR person to ease the fears of the residents, but it could happen. Perhaps the area around the Garden has been lost to bland condo architecture, but if the Congress St. Garage project is built to the renderings, the Aquarium tower is ever approved, and the Parcel 9 project is realized, the Greenway will be well on it's way towards becoming a premier piece of real estate.

Oh, did I mention an 800' tower on top of South Station, designed by a world-renowned starchitect, would top the whole thing off?
 
Re: Atlantic Wharf (formerly Russia Wharf)

Few from Friday

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Re: Atlantic Wharf (formerly Russia Wharf)

cant wait for this thing to be lit up at night
 
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