Millennium Tower (Filene's) | 426 Washington Street | Downtown

Status
Not open for further replies.
Re: Millennium Tower - Filene's

JSic said:
I disgaree. A cluster of towers is more impresive than one spike standing alone. Just need to vary the heights and the materials.

The ESB is a truly unique case; arguably the most iconic skyscraper in the world.
Click to expand...

A cluster of towers is every other wanna-be city in the world - and all looking like you're not really certain where you are. None of that is Boston. Please, all due respect to a contrary view, but please do not "Dubai" our town with a "cluster" of erections...
 
Re: Millennium Tower - Filene's

KentXie said:
Dubai%2BMarina%2B%252811%2529.JPG
Click to expand...

The JHT would fill in that gap on the right at the same height as the top of the glass dome to the left of it. (not including the twin "spires") It would be officially the 8th or 9th tallest building in the picture, and some of the buildings in the cluster are not visible here.

The problems with this are beyond just the lack of low/mid-rises. They also include every building having the same general shape/footprint, and literally being built with as little breathing room as possible. Would look much better 3-5 times as spread out, buffered by more low and mid-rise buildings. (and preferably with a couple redesigns thrown in to improve variety)
 
Re: Millennium Tower - Filene's

Does anyone know what the street level is like there? That's what's really important.
 
Re: Millennium Tower - Filene's

Everything regarding social interaction and "life" is done internally in climate-controlled areas in Dubai because the climate is so harsh. The goal in Dubai is to be outside for the least amount of time because it is so hot. This problem is not helped by the fact that everyone insists on building all-glass skyscrapers there that require excessive HVAC/power usage. It is arguably the least sustainable place on earth.

These reasons are why we need to end this sick obsession with Dubai and get back to analyzing the cities around the world, figuring out what exactly makes them work. (Note: "we" meaning the architectural community)
 
Last edited:
Re: Millennium Tower - Filene's

nm88 said:
A cluster of towers is every other wanna-be city in the world - and all looking like you're not really certain where you are. None of that is Boston. Please, all due respect to a contrary view, but please do not "Dubai" our town with a "cluster" of erections...
Click to expand...

Fine, if it offends you so much then here's a shot of Philly's cluster. The point of the whole thing isn't about turning Boston into Dubai but the fact that towers can still look tall in cluster if you vary the height.

IMG_3218.JPG


The four towers in the middle still look tall even though it's next to each other.
 
Re: Millennium Tower - Filene's

I like the Comcast tower but don't like what it did to the skyline. One Liberty Place now looks squat because of it.
 
Re: Millennium Tower - Filene's

datadyne007 said:
Everything regarding social interaction and "life" is done internally in climate-controlled areas in Dubai because the climate is so harsh. The goal in Dubai is to be outside for the least amount of time because it is so hot. This problem is not helped by the fact that everyone insists on building all-glass skyscrapers there that require excessive HVAC/power usage. It is arguably the least sustainable place on earth.

These reasons are why we need to end this sick obsession with Dubai and get back to analyzing the cities around the world, figuring out what exactly makes them work. (Note: "we" meaning the architectural community)
Click to expand...

Agree 100% with Data. Dubai has the deck stacked against it because:
1. It's ridiculously hot and humid.
2. It's built by and for a class of tourist-shoppers and petrol-millionaires that don't give a shit about walkability, liveability, affordability, etc.
 
Re: Millennium Tower - Filene's

datadyne007 said:
Nada.

Sheikh_Zayed_Road_06.jpg

images
Click to expand...

I usually agree with most of you about cities' walkability and street level interaction, but that picture is pretty awesome. I don't even own a car, but can only imagine what it would be like to drive down that highway with those futuristic buildings on both sides.
 
Re: Millennium Tower - Filene's

Take it from 12 lanes down to 6 and lose 150 of the 200' sidewalks/grass/planters, and maybe it'd be a neat drive. But, otherwise it's an overgrown midwestern nightmare made worse by being in the desert.

Unless I can drive a buck fifty down that speedway, or am actually in a futuristic flying mobile, that view is not tempting.
 
Re: Millennium Tower - Filene's

Oy vey... Thanks for the update though.
 
Re: Millennium Tower - Filene's

FWIW, work is definitely starting to pick up on the site. I walked by yesterday, and the ground floor boards have been removed in most spots, opening up the building to the surrounding streets. They have also begun taking apart the decorative awnings over the sidewalks.

Plus, their facade contractor - NER Construction sent out a tweet on Tuesday announcing that they have started restoration work on the building.
 
Re: Millennium Tower - Filene's

What happens if he dies in surgery?
 
Re: Millennium Tower - Filene's

Corbusier__Contemporary_city_for_3_mil_central_station_105.JPG


Look, it's Dubai! :)

There's plenty of cities in the middle east ("birthplace of civilization") that date back thousands of years before A/C.
 
Re: Millennium Tower - Filene's

jdrinboston said:
Curbed Boston reports that the June 4 groundbreaking ceremony has been postponed in order to allow Tom Menino to recover from his imminent prostate surgery. A reschedule date has yet to be announced.

http://boston.curbed.com/archives/2013/05/towers.php
Click to expand...

This sounds about right. So now it can get postponed a week, then a month, then sometime in the fall, then spring of 2014... and the cycle of mediocrity continues.

Keep in mind, both this and the Copley Tower were supposed to be out of the ground by now. Fuck this shit. Something always goes wrong. "Soon" never becomes "now". We'll probably end up with 300 feet of pre-cast and spandrel.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Back
Top