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

Re: Russia Wharf

These pictures sure answer my question as to whether the developer would preserve the brick vaulted ceilings. Will the end result really be any better than pre-cast? Part of my dislike of pre-cast is that it is fake--concrete masquerading as stone. I'd prefer concrete that looks like nice concrete. Once the old buildings are reduced to veneers, I think preservation is futile.
 
Re: Russia Wharf

^^ Again, I think the answer can be found on Summer St. They used the exactly same facade-ectomy method and I had no idea until I saw old pictures of the construction.

Right now it looks like shit, but if they do it right, anyone who hasn't seen this in progress will never know it's just a facade.

Something they can't pull off with pre-cast facades.
 
Re: Russia Wharf

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the facade is feeling pretty lonely at this point

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it's mock-up time!

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Re: Russia Wharf

kz, thanks as always for your pics.

if the mockup is of the tower portion, looks a lot less blue then some of the renderings.

now begins the fun part, excavating for the garage.
 
Re: Russia Wharf

Great pics. There was definitely a boom progress over the last week.

The mockup looks good, but does anybody have any idea what the final design really looks like?
 
Re: Russia Wharf

When is this scheduled to get out of the ground? Will this and SST rise around the same time?
 
Re: Russia Wharf

I would imagine that they would have a godd overlap during each rising stage.

Here are a couple of pics that RichardThomas dug up. These larger renderings are very impressive.

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Re: Russia Wharf

Yeah Van, these definitely are the latest renderings. The Globe showed a smaller version back in the summer. These are those same renderings enlarged.

I like them a lot too. I think we can start calling this 33 Arch South :)
 
Re: Russia Wharf

Not ranting just for height's sake, but I just think it would look alot better if it were taller. It would make it alot more dramatic(obviously) but dramatic should def be at that location. i still like it though
 
Re: Russia Wharf

remember when steve bailey described russia wharf as an "alien on the park"? the man had a point. so many proposed towers are planned to use historic structures as foundations (e.g. dainty dot, south station tower).

i am pro-growth for sure. but i worry about lack of integration in their design; integration of the old with the new. will these towers look as though they were plopped down callously? or preferably, will they look as though they are growing organically from their foundation almost as if they were offspring of an earlier generation of structure?

i look to 125 summer street as a precedent
http://bp1.blogger.com/_UzNBGu7dZ2I...O0/xPHdoPuOUlg/s1600-h/125+Summer+Street2.jpg
 
Re: Russia Wharf

There is a new NYU dorm going up in the village that was built on the lot of an abandoned church (or the church sold out, not 100% sure which it is). I just went by it last night and all that's left of the church is the front section with the steeple. It looks so bad that I wish they had just tore the whole church out.

Sometimes preservationists fail to see the big picture.
 
Re: Russia Wharf

I'd far prefer an artful contrast to a weak contrivance like 125 Summer Street.
 
Re: Russia Wharf

I have to agree with czsz. In concept, projects like 125 Summer or 101 Arch seem like the most sensible solutions to the problem of new-on-old, but in execution it usually turns out to be rather laughable.
 
Re: Russia Wharf

125 Summer(whoops) street is so silly and fake looking, though. It's Disneyfied architecture that might look good in Las Vegas, but just pales in comparison to the real thing (which we already have).
 
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Re: Russia Wharf

I completely disagree.

As much as I don't like the highrise portion of 101 Arch. The facadectomy works wonderfully at street level (the part that truly matters).
If they carried that disgrace all the way to the street, that portion of Summer St would be a disaster.
 
Re: Russia Wharf

The latest news (maybe not good) from the Boston Business Journal.

Russia Wharf condo plan may be altered
Boston Business Journal - February 4, 2008 by Michelle HillmanJournal staff


For the second time in three years, the owner of Russia Wharf is selling the residential portion of the development.

The current owner, Boston Properties Inc. (NYSE: BXP), is in the process of selecting a buyer for the residential slice of the mixed-use development that could sell for about $65 million. Boston Properties bought Russia Wharf from The Blackstone Group last March for about $100 million.
Click to expand...
 
Re: Russia Wharf

statler said:
I completely disagree.

As much as I don't like the highrise portion of 101 Arch. The facadectomy works wonderfully at street level (the part that truly matters). If they carried that disgrace all the way to the street, that portion of Summer St would be a disaster.
Click to expand...

Nobody is saying we should get rid of the old facades; just that when given the choice of contextual po-mo or high-contrasting modern over a facadectomy, the po-mo usually is usually more offensive in how pale an imitation it turns out to be.
 
Re: Russia Wharf

Oh, I completely misread your comments.

I see what you are saying now. Sorry.
 
Re: Russia Wharf

mpm617 said:
The latest news (maybe not good) from the Boston Business Journal.
Click to expand...

The news about Boston Properties selecting a buyer of the residential piece of the project is not bad news and not unexpected. Finding a buyer for the residential piece will help finance the rest of the project. It will only be bads news if they can't find a buyer. Boston Properties does not generally develop or own residential. For example, it does not own the residential pieces of the Prudential Center.
 
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