SimFox's non-Asian BATs

[SpartanBadger 4]

Fox, that's just awesome! When I said "unrealistic" I meant for SC4 standards...the only thing I suggest you do is just apply textures. I don't think it needs any more details. In all honesty, this is the most anticipated BAT for me in a long long time, I just want you to release this...NOICE!

[Andreas Roth 616]

@SimFox: The blue one looks very nice; the green and yellow ones are a bit too pronounced, though, I'd say. But the colors you showed in the RL pic would work fine. Personally, I think a mild noise across the walls would be enough; there's not really the need to make them too busy. Maybe you could try something like JosefMayor showed in his first pic - the colored parts are most likely some panels with distinctive seams in between, whereas the white/grey areas are either painted concrete or some kind of plaster.

[toxicpiano 125]

The colours are fabulous! Any plans for shorter versions?

Also, 2400th post!

[SURUMI 2]

*wow* I like the colours at all. This would be nice to have all of them on the STEX. There's more variety to making residental areas.

New version is a bit better.

[gt6282 3]

Simfox: It is really a minor change but anyway I like the new one.. So you'll come up with 4 different colored buildings? cool!

[Jasoncw 11,941]

I prefer the new version with the extra roof junk.

[nofunk 1,933]

I prefer the new one as well; the different window designs break up that strip nicely.

[SimFox 803]

Oh I can make as many color as you want! Just give me the colors. It more or less ready. And by popular demand the new version it is! I was actually leaning toward the old one. I didn't quite liked the metal parts on that narrow colored strip. To my eye it defeated its architectural point. But according to everybody else - community and the architects of the ORIGINAL I'm wrong on that on. Well I accept it as a fact. If all goes well (night lights) I can export first batch (say red) already this weekend (may be friday). Then modding and Loting - something I don't know a thing about.... :-(

There will be more roof Junk and overall roof will be more developed.

OK since this is more or less done I've started doodling with a new one. Here is a progress so far:

Watching nofunk's marvel moved me to do something along similar lines, but with a Moscow twist to it.

[SURUMI 2]

*whoa* very massive.

What's that ? City parliament ?

[SimFox 803]

Nope, it is one of the Stalins' "seven sisters" skyscrapers built in late 40s in Moscow. This particular one is a Hotel Ukraina (Ukraine) One of the most impressive and second tallest one (data differs between 198 and 206 m).

soon it would be overshadowed by looming towers of Moscow City though...

Already today they dominate the views from ground level in the vicinity of the hotel. These are the vistas just couple of hundred meters from the location - near Kiev Railway station:

photos by Bolik

[patriots_1228 51]

Simfox have you seen Cals new versions of goobers canals? Ever thought of making this building work with those canals? That would look awesome.

The building is incredible you are a spectacular BATter. Love those glass they have in Moscow.

[SimFox 803]

Thanx patriot!

What exactly do you mean by making it work with those canals? To make canal run through it somehow? Something else?

[nofunk 1,933]

SimFox, that is absolutely breathtaking!! I assume you will be taking this in a unique direction and not making an exact re-creation?

Also: let me know if you need any help lotting and modding the tower!

[ilikehotdogsalot 311]

looks beyond awesome simfox

[SimFox 803]

Nofunk:

Actually I was thinking to do this one as close to the original as I could given that I do it based on photos alone and even those are very sparse for some parts. It is very photographed building but just from few point. Although I like the style I don't have any practical experience with it so i want to "learn" it by copying. Later, though, I think I may recreate some of those Seven Sisters the way they were design - some undergone significant change under direct orders of Stalin, who was (as story goes) great fan of Gothic Plus he didn't want those building resembling American ones too much. This is strange as they do anyway. So Spires were installed on several of them where original design called for flat "American" roofs. Most notable example is a ministry of foreign affairs building. It was already finished when Stalin while driving by had ordered spire to be added. As a result one was made from Stainless still painted to resemble stone cladding , as building's structure wouldn't allow for anything else.

Here are pairs: first original design and second after it has been "re-worked"

Ministry of Foregn Affairs

  

this is how it looks now (close up on "fake" top):

When after Stalin's death the architect petitioned authorities to remove that absurd addition, Khruschev reportedly said - no, let it stay there and be the monument to Stalin's stupidity!

One more example  - residential building on Kudrinskaya:

  

[BurroDiablo 222]

Amazing stuff Simfox... i'm definitely watching this one closely.

How many of the Sisters are you thinking of doing... giving that some of them were never completed?

[SimFox 803]

El Burro:

Well all of them were completed and are alive and well, so to say.

The notion of something missing is probably due to the fact that originally there were suppose to be 8 not 7 of them.

I know 8 is a lucky number in Chinese tradition, but in this case it has different etymology. Foundation to all 8 buildings were laid down on the same day on September 7th 1947 - the day Moscow had celebrated 800 years since its founding by prince Yury Dolgorukij. Well in fact Moscow did exist prior to that. According to archaeological data for few hundred years. But September 7th 1147 is the date that Moscow was mentioned for the first time in written documents. On that day Price invited some dignitaries to join him for a feast in the city of Moscow.

But the 8th sister has never been built. Accounts as to why differ. Enormous foundation has been laid for it just next to the Kremlin, and some work has been advanced to 5-7th floor but then death of Stalin put a hold on the project.

This drawing gives you the idea of Stalins vison of the future of Red Square. White tower in the Center - 8th sister.

Stalin view architecture as a propaganda tool and were building magnificent palaces while country lay devastated by the horrific war that just ended couple of years ago.

here are pictures from corridors of that residential building on Kudrinskaya:

Khrushchev views on architecture and almost everything else were radically different. He saw it's goal as to provide 100 million apartments within 10 years to house ALL people in their own individual units.

Later on the foundation of 8th sister hotel Rossija was built. When finished in 1967 it became world larges. Its size gives clear clue to the scale of the never built building.

But that monster didn't survive for full 40years and as now is almost completely demolished by Luzkov in order to built new low-rise (max 7 floors) development designed by Foster.

So this is how site was invisioned in 1947:

This is how it ended up looking in 1967:

this how it looked summer 2006:

and summer2007:

and this is about how it will look in 3 years time:

But of course apart for those 8 there was another one - the mother of 'em all the first soviet skyscraper - the Palace of Soviets. Construction stared before WWII. Huge foundation was laid and by the start of the war steel framework for first 10-12 floors was complete. War and continues alterations to the design kept slowing construction, and then after teh death of Stalin the project itself died (again by the personal interference of Nikita Khrushev).

The steel was used for Hotel Rossija, and foundation was turned into the swimming pool. This is gone now two and the replica of the original occupant of the spot - cathedral of Christ the Savior was rebuilt in 1990s.

[nofunk 1,933]

SimFox, I'm really glad you're doing this project. I'll be honest: I've always discounted Russian architecture as being too stark and brutalist, but those Seven Sisters are just phenomenal! You've definitely opened my eyes. I can't wait to see progress on these!

[SimFox 803]

NoFunk:

:-)

I'm glad I was able to show you something new. Actually during Stalin's time Lots of very elaborate and sometimes even extravagant buildings were built. Those are still revered in Moscow even by people who hate Stalin more then anything in the world. As I see there was only one major problem with that type of architecture - it was also extravagantly expensive. All that marble, browse, mosaic, gilding, crystal. Tons of element that are purely decorative. In some buildings almost 1/3 of the budget went into such things - columns, statues etc. And that all when hors of people had nowhere to live after the war. For comparison the cost of main of Seven Sisters - University building was as much as total rebuilding cost of mid-sized town that would house 150 000 people!

Here is some progress on hotel Ukraina:

and Zoom4 render:

[toxicpiano 125]

Looking good! Here is something I thought might interest you:

http://www.viewzone.com/yamantau.html

I don't know if you've heard about it, but what are they preparing for? Makes you wonder.

[patriots_1228 51]

Wow amazing details simfox.

i meant making it a canal peice similar to this:
https://www.sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=981

of course you don't have to do that, seeing as id already download this and give it 10/10.

[Jasoncw 11,941]

It's looking really good so far.  I'm looking forward to seeing it with window frames. 

Patriots, the building itself doesn't interact with the canals. 

[SimFox 803]

Ok! it is to it's full hight now - 196m

White parts are just a temp rough placeholders to gage the size and proportions.

I'll put it on hold now till the moment I'll release "red" building, and then continue detailing it while finishing One Silver Sea.

PS and here is Zoom4  game view:

[ilikehotdogsalot 311]

DANGGGGGGGGG!!!!!

[mjig_dudy 11]

[CarmineHilton 6]

That is sooooooooooooooo SEXY!

[toxicpiano 125]

Beautiful! I can't wait to see how you texture it!

[SimFox 803]

Well texturing should be very simple - it is just clad in a stone... with some marble, granite and bronze elements.

I think I'll use same material on it as on One Silver Sea base. Just with reduced block sizes and may be different cladding order. And more matte. The one in OSS is polished to be quite a reflective one.

[patriots_1228 51]

amazing.

[CDT_boss 0]

awesome!! P.S. on the summer 2007 pic there is a huge Playstation3 ad, is playstation really popular in Moscow or do they make everything huge?