Lee Bey: The Urban Observer

(photos by Lee Bey) 

The 80+ story residential highrise, Aqua, takes shape near Randolph and upper Columbus on the western edge of the Lake Shore East development. There is still a ways to go, obviously, but I couldn't help but be impressed by the rhythm and beauty that are already apparent at this early stage.

(rendering by ImageFiction) 

Q. How did Studio/Gang arrive at Aqua's unique look? Was it there from the beginning or did it morph into this shape as designs were refined?

A: The design concept was there from the beginning. The idea was to make the face of the building occupiable which is achieved through extending the floor slabs. Slabs are extended more in some areas to allow site specific views. The shapes were continuously adjusted throughout the design process to coordinate with floor plans, ADA, and to maintain smooth transitions from floor to floor

Q: What particular elements have to be pulled off just right in order to make the building sing, if you will?

A: The most important thing is the concrete and it is already clear that the contractor, McHugh, is doing a great job with that. Next is the glass. We were very careful to select the glass for its performance as well as its color and and reflectivity. As the building goes up, you will start to notice there are different types of glass used, and a very subtle pattern will develop.

Q:What's been the reaction to Aqua far from the public and your fellow professionals?

A. I am just getting back from Dubai where I presented the building at the "Tall and Green" international conference for [Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat]. I am learning that the tall building club is very small, dominated by the larger, more corporate firms. It is unique that we were given the opportunity to design one and I am glad we were able to bring a fresh perspective. After this conference, I wouldn't be surprised to see the design copied and reproduced in China.  I think it has sparked the imagination of the public. I only say that because of the emails and inquiries I've received from lots of different people from all over. It has been published in Italy, Spain, Mexico, Canada, Turkey, and the UAE.
 
Q: An 88-story skyscraper is an unusual project for your firm. How much does Aqua define where the firm goes next? Are there more skyscrapers in the offing?

A:It demonstrates we can achieve large technically complex buildings.We want to do projects that are interesting and where there is architectural ambition. I think there is untapped potential in the tall building type and I hope we will have the opportunity to take it further.

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 (photos by Curtis Locke)

I stumbled across the work of photographer Curtis Locke a few weeks ago on the photosite flickr. Each photo is sharp essay on some aspect of Chicago's urban self. Taverns. Two-flats. Ghost signs. Everything is laid bare and revealed. And he clearly digs the South Side, so that makes him good in my book. Curtis "flickrs" under the name kneejerky. (He also writes a blog.)The Urban Observer tracked him down for a few questions. But first, check out some more of his pix:

Q: So Curtis...what subjects attract you as a photographer?

A: Representatives of "Old Chicago" (bricks, terra cotta,
water towers, alleys, urban patina); "MY Chicago", an
alternative, personal guide to the Second City that is not
included in the official "Welcome to Chicago" brochure,
places where "nature" and the "built environment"
intersect; all varieties of "signage", especially "ghost
signs" and the evidence of a previous life; vacant lots
symbolizing "emptiness",  "potential", and challenging the
concept of "nothingness"; the sense of transience as
manifested by decay and loss.   

Q:What stories do your images tell?

A: The beauty of the ordinary and  the idiosyncratic.  The
fleeting and enduring nature of an evolving metropolis.

Q: What turned you on to photography?

A: With an "undeclared" minor in photography, I fell in
love with the myth and gothic Rust Belt ruin that was
Cleveland back in the early 1980's, where I attended
college and studied political science. 

Q:Who inspired you as a photographer?

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(photo by Lee Bey)
I posted a link to this ingenious rock video tribute to Mies van der Rohe last week. Since then, I can’t get the song—or the images—out of my mind. So I did what any recovering newspaper architecture critic would do: I found a way to get another story out of it by tracking down the guy who created the video and the song. Meet Ted Kamp, a California creative soul who once lived in Chicago. His brother is writer and humorist David Kamp. Ted consented to a Q&A with the Urban Observer.

Q. What moved you to create this work?

A. There aren't enough rockin' songs about architecture. The master builders of the recent past have really come up with some colossal innovations and were often some mighty intriguing characters, if not outright nutjobs… I studied architecture a bit in college and I've stayed an enthusiast. For some reason, these tunes started popping up in my head in the course of reading about various architects and schools of architecture. I've been working in television for the past 12 years in a spectacularly unsatisfying career. I have decided to put my accumulated skills (writing/producing/directing/camera/editing/composing, etc) and quirky passions (architecture, etc) to use by creating my own little films to put out into the unspoiled artistic wilderness of the internet. 

Q: Why Mies? I mean when you’ve got "Louie Kahn, Louie Kahn, let me rockya Louie Kahn, let me rockya that’s all I wanna do...”

A. The Mies song has to have been with me for about 15 years. Architects like Mies catch my imagination because of the level of innovation and subsequent influence they have. I lived in Chicago for about ten years and I found not only his buildings fascinating, but also how Chicago's look transitioned through him. People in Windy City are actually more aware of architectural style because of Mies, Sullivan, Wright, etc. I remember some Second City sketches where Helmut Jahn was a punchline, which I thought unique. I chose to do the Mies tune for some practical reasons, including the availability of public domain images I could use, and buildings here in LA that I could shoot that are very directly derivative of his work.

Q. You’re the singer, the songwriter and the guy in the video? You do some mean shimmying and high-kicking in there.

A. I wrote and produced the song by myself using a midi keyboard to create various sounds, chords, etc. and loads of loops. I am the singer (and choreographer, for what that's worth.) 

Q: Do you have any other architects in mind for future songs and videos? I would imagine the Saarinens—either one—would be good. And I take this time to renew my plug for Louis Kahn.

A: I am at work on heaps of other architects. I like ones that are slightly less well-known than the superstars like Wright and Gehry (although I hear there are some hot selling t-shirts that say "Fuck Frank Gehry" - there's a rock song if I ever heard it.) I drive around the Los Angeles area a great deal, almost always with a camera or two in my car, so I keep collecting footage to use. Putting the songs together and editing takes a bunch of time, so it's been slow going. I also have a busy, schleppy life, what with the wife/kids/house/soul-crushing career/ mid-life ennui and all. But I vow that you will see more videos very soon, as this is apparently My Destiny. I'm even getting requests on YouTube, like Louis Kahn and Hans Poelzig. Go figure.

Q. I can’t wait to see more. Any parting words?

A: Say hi to everyone in Chicago. I miss them, but not the winters.

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