Boston Properties Office Tower | 888 Boylston Street | Back Bay

Java King said:
Every opinion matters, and we are each allowed our thoughts. However, I do remember WAY WAY WAY back when this was revised from the curved glass tower, most board members were quite happy with the new design. I think it's been said before, but street interaction is very important here and in many other "so called" design turds. I ABSOLUTELY despise the design of Parklane Seaport apartments, but I have to admit......the street retail and sidewalk activation is much better than most developments. So, I give it somewhat of a pass.

IMHO, 888 Boylston is light years ahead of most recent Boston development in design, materials, and street activation. That being said, yes, it could have been taller but I think the BCDC and the PruPac groups cut it down quite a bit.
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Everybody does have an opinion. I bolded your comment concerning this is light years ahead.
I think 888 Boylston is not Backbay material. It's futuristic garbage.

When I think of the Backbay and their buildings I think of Prestige, Quality, Buildings that have stood the test of time.

888 Boylston is nothing like this. This would have been a better fit in a Downtown experiment.
Backbay is truly moving to second best in Boston. I'm starting to realize the North End is becoming more desirable location because of the Greenway activation.
 
TheRifleman said:
Everybody does have an opinion. I bolded your comment concerning this is light years ahead.
I think 888 Boylston is not Backbay material. It's futuristic garbage.

When I think of the Backbay and their buildings I think of Prestige, Quality, Buildings that have stood the test of time.

888 Boylston is nothing like this.
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I'm with you on this. I look at this and think 'this is what people thought the future looked like; in 1997; in Bahrain ...'
 
Yep, we've established that everyone can have their own opinion. :cool:

I think we've also established that this building is cacophony/mash-up/amalgam of different elements. Some people hate it precisely for that (the level of nit-picking is almost comic) but I think it creates a unique space that I haven't seen elsewhere in Boston--it's a bit whimsical (though as I've said before, the windmills are gimmicky) and not-at-all-"serious." Personally, I thank god we are spared yet another brain-dead glass box that looks like every other building being constructed in Austin, Columbus, and Phoenix. I too wish it were about 15 stories taller, but the plaza is amazing and provides a distinctive front door to the Prudential complex. If it were on a bigger scale, I would find it garish, but it's fun-sized :D

Actually, I was living in Bahrain just prior to 1997 and I can tell you that their "future" looked like Millennium Tower.
 
Tombstoner said:
Actually, I was living in Bahrain just prior to 1997 and I can tell you that their "future" looked like Millennium Tower.
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You missed this thing by only a few years then:

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CSTH said:
You missed this thing by only a few years then:

0fa06deb9f0095b161b4897fb5d33ece.jpg
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Not sure what point you are making... "This looks like 888 Bolyston" (yes, it is a building and, yes, it has unfortunate windmills) or "Here is an ugly building that is not a glassy box so...um... this is what Bahrain looks like."?
 
There is a lot not to like about details, but maybe the fun will be greater than the sum of the parts.
 
tobyjug said:
There is a lot not to like about details, but maybe the fun will be greater than the sum of the parts.
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Yeah, I think we should keep the idea of "fun" in mind--not silliness, but quirkiness that engages the eye and creates an interesting/distinctive space. I'm equally loving the BPL exterior renovation as the suspended lighting is going to add interest and the recharging "counter" (that's what I was told it would be) will encourage interaction--maybe a little gimmicky, but again, fun.
 
They've been lighting the top/ turbines for about a week now (Mostly a "white" light that's tinting lavender).

The turbines were in motion the other night, playing with shadows and light ast they rotated; I liked lit up like that.
 
Sorry I was in a car, someone with a good camera should get over there!
 
From the Allston On ramp to the pike it glowed and up close it looked great!
 
I hate to bring negativity but when im driving over the bridge i cant help but say to myself the crown looks even worse than I thought it would. Ive gotten used to it from the pike side, but from across the river damn it looks bad.
 
I meant to say in the daytime the crown is even worse than I thought it would be.
 
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