Aqua

Made from a mixture of metal, cement and glass, the new Aqua residential tower at 225 N. Columbus Drive looks refreshingly streamlined and light. While the center of the building is an average rectangular glass tower, Gang’s use of curvy balconies gives it a more sculpted, organic feel. The contrast between the opaque concrete and reflective glass also gives it highlights, depth and interest. Construction of Aqua began in 2006 and was completed in 2010. It rises 82 stories in Lakeshore East, Chicago, built by a team of architects headed by Jeanne Gang. It has been marketed as the tallest building (at a height of over 850 feet) to be completed by a team led by a woman architect.

Lakeshore east, near Lake Michigan and the Chicago River, is home to many buildings that have aquatic names including The Tides, The Shoreham and The Regatta. Aqua uses the sculptural quality of its construction to extend this theme into its appearance. The large concrete balconies on each floor form waves up and down the building’s sides. Each wave is different, and therefore each concrete section on each floor was unique. Although this made Aqua’s construction somewhat challenging because each layer had to be created independently, the finished look gives the building a nice flowing texture.

Aqua’s balconies have drawn some criticism because all units do not have equal balcony space. Because each section of concrete is unique, some decks are 12 feet outward from the rooms, while others have barely enough space to walk out on. However, while architecture’s main function is to provide an appropriate space for the people using it, uneven balconies are not enough to dismiss this building as a gimmick. Just as there are different versions of apartment space in Aqua, there are different sizes of balconies. Therefore, each resident may choose which space is best for his or her needs. While the decreased outdoor space may not please some people, others may be content paying less for that space. This also adds variety to the tower—it would be boring if all the residences were identical.

While studying the wavy decks, it is easy to forget that the residence is primarily a rectangular column of glass. The floor-to ceiling windows allow each unit to have spectacular views of the surrounding area (downtown, Michigan Avenue, Navy Pier) while also contrasting with the white decks on the outside. Aqua would be a plain glass building without its decks, but the windows also help add to the nautical texture. The contrast between white and blue pulls from visions from the sea.

Although Aqua is somewhat hidden behind neighboring towers, the different wavy textures along its exterior give quite a unique view from each direction one might glimpse it from. It is quite a nice look against a cloudy sky, since the two textures almost seem to merge. Although it is not the best in residential architecture, it is certainly more interesting than the typical residential tower with identical floors.