Chicago Spire vs. Freedom Tower

[kawan 6]

Hasn't been much talk about skyscrapers recently, so here's a poll. We have city vs. city, so why not buildings?

The two skyscrapers, probably the "Big 2" supertalls in the USA, are currently under construction...in the "Big 2" cities of the USA (maybe). You probably know a lot about them by now anyway.

So which one do you prefer?

I would choose the Freedom Tower. I don't really have a specific reason why in terms of architecture, but it just appeals to me more.

[Duke87 1,070]

Freedom Tower.

Not as tall, but it's a better looking building. Chicago Spire looks like a giant glass screw.

[Lattata 1]

Freedom Tower, it's a symbol of healing and memories, the Chicago Spire is a modern building, and I do live 80 miles north of it. I would choose Freedom Tower, for it's symbolic meaning.

[Godzillaman 21]

Giant glass screw forever!

[sEAhAwk fAn121 0]

Chicago Spire all of the way! I love Chicago and this building is awsome!

[joeynymets 19]

Freedom Tower because its a monument for those 2000+ people that died there on 9/11 and also because im a new yorker

[SimHoTToDDy 2,938]

I think both are interesting, but somehow the Chicago Spire dosn't sit well with me. It just dos't fit in with the rest of the city.  Not to say I don't  congradulate the designers for haveing the guts to build somthing like this in the US, but it REALY sticks out. The Freedom Tower, at least, is being built in conjunction with towers of similar design to help it "blend in" (not that you won't be able to notice it). Thats why Dubai can "get away" with haveing the creative (borderlineing crazy) architecture... because the whiole city has that same distinct look. 

Getting back to the point, the Chicago Spire is a unique new design, but i dont think it goes with the city. The Freedom Tower is different, but still does the city, and the people at loss form 9/11, justice.

[Cockatoo 2,256]

I voted for Freedom Tower just because personally I think it looks a whole lot better and actually fits in with it's cities skyline. I don't even know why the Chicago Spire is even being built, no offence to anyone who actually likes it but I just don't like the strange twisting design and the height factor, it looks really out of place with the rest of the city.

[Mulefisk 15]

Chicago Spire. The Freedom Tower is a little too unoriginal to get my vote.

[david1314 44]

The spire...

The patriotic drivel that surrounds the freedom tower makes me sick.  The spire could be a giant phallus and I would prefer it to the freedom tower.

For what it's worth though, at a glance the freedom tower looks quite good.

[____----____ 37]

Originally posted by: david1314 The spire...

The patriotic drivel that surrounds the freedom tower makes me sick.  The spire could be a giant phallus and I would prefer it to the freedom tower.

For what it's worth though, at a glance the freedom tower looks quite good.quote>

 

cosign and nice avatar

The argument that the spire doesn't fit in with chicago is lame, people said that same thing about sears, chicago has quite a few modern supertalls and talls (aqua, waterview, trump, ect) going up with more proposed (waldorf, ect) Kudos to this city for not staying stuck in a rut and pushing the envelope like it has for a century.

[Micah 16]

The Chicago Spire.

Both are great towers, but the Chicago Spire is the project I literally check everyday because there's something interesting occuring all the time. 

Edit: For those that say "towers that stick out, don't fit in with their skyline and shouldn't belong there" is just an arguement that has no basis to it. Look at the CN Tower. It's much larger than its surroundings and it's completely different from everything else there, and yet it's considered an icon of Toronto. What about the WTC? The Eiffel Tower? The Sears Tower?

[outriderdriver 4]

SPIRE! SPIRE! but i would have chosen the Freedom if they hadent changed the design, stupid blast wall idea.

[BurroDiablo 222]

I don't particularly like either... Chicago Spire looks totally out of place and ostentatious, even though the design isn't really that amazing, it trys too hard to impress people with its vulgar spiraly looks.

Freedom Tower is a nice building though... the thing I dispise though is the Name... 'Freedom Tower'... ugh, why don't you just cover it in George Dubya statues while your at it... it'll at least give us something to tear down when his empire falls in November.

Building I like the most though... 200 Greenwich Street... thats magnificent building. Unique, Futuristic and brilliantly designed... probably Mr. Fosters best ever.

[confused04 14]

Freedom Tower - Although not as tall and somewhat lacking in creativity, it looks more proportional and fitting than the Spire.

I am by far not Mr. Patriotic or a fan of current politics, but I think the name "Freedom Tower" is fitting. Its a response to an event and many towers are named such so I don't really care if I agree with the politics behind it.

[Ded 30]

Chicago Spire... Only because 'Freedom Tower' has got to be the most disgustingly pretentious name I've ever heard.

[ilikehotdogsalot 307]

Freedom Tower. The Chicago Spire is the weirdest thing I have ever seen.

[waway625 72]

freedom tower...the chicago spire looks like a (mod pls delete the word if it isnt allowed) giant dildo lol

[banks 0]

freedom tower i mean i dont mind the spire but it will look lost in chicagos skyline were as new york city has evreything form old to new so the freedom tower looks good there but booth are great buildings but yew my vote gos for the freedom tower

[2nerdy4u 1]

The Chicago Spire. It serves as a nice center point for Chicago's ever-changing skyline. It's modern design fits in rather nicely with the existing skyline and also opens up the opportunity for a more futuristic skyline. And I think it will look amazing at night.

Older design, I know, but you have to admit that looks awesome.

The Freedom Tower is nice and symbolic and all, but I would've preferred a set of twin towers resembling the original towers.

[belfastuniguy 18]

The Spire...

Freedom looks disgusting. Yeah had so many wonderful designs to select from and they selected that..... I do like the Foster building on the site though, Foster is an architectural god....

I understand all the emotion about freedom tower, I love NY and loved the WTC, took some fantastic images from it when I visited. But what they choose is just awful.

[BurroDiablo 222]

Given the other designs, including Fosters, I think they made a good choice...

Foster-

Libeskind -

Holl -

Think Team -

United Architects -

Peterson/Littenberg -

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill -

---

That said, I acctually like the Peterson/Littenberg one more than the one they chose...

[toxicpiano 125]

I like Norman Foster's design tbh.

[dogma555 187]

Dont see why we are voting between them.. They are both nice additions to each cities skyline. The current lower manhattan skyline is obviously *missing* something. The only thing that has currently helped, is one of the tallest buildings in the nyc metro, the goldman sachs tower in Jersey City, which soars so high it almost blends in with the downtown skyline from some areas.. so this should also compliment the new wtc towers very well.

WOW this would have SUCKED by the way.. lol

[outriderdriver 4]

I woulld love for all of them to be in SC4 but wouldnt too much like to see them in NYC, Id still say the original accepted design was the best.(with the generators)

[Callbat 8]

ugh, the freedom tower is best.

Anybody with an OUNCE of good taste will tell you that the spire was designed by some loon who doesn't konow the first damned thing about architecture. These architects and their followers parade the media and the streets, afriad to admit that they haven't the first idea about architecture or good taste. Please, look at the thing! My 4 year old nephew could've just as easily drawn something similar. The horrid thing doesn't even fit in with the skyline. I think it will be a sad day for Chicagoans when that utter monstrosity is finished.

The freedom tower is alright, but it shouldn't be built in the first place. One would think the site would be respected,  a statue or something, respecting the lives of the thousands who died. But NOOO, harbouring that good 'ol American spirit they are building another big, huge tower. And the name is very poorly chosen. The is capitalism at its worst.

[patriots_1228 51]

foster-ugly

libeskind-great

Holl-well, it is a constant remember that we are # 1, (#) but its ugly

thinkteam-where do the people go?

united-I like this one alot

peterson-looks too much like the other new york buildings, boring

Skidmore-the architect must of had diarehhea when he made this.

[BurroDiablo 222]

I've acctually given in an voted for the Freedom Tower. Dispite the title... as a design and the events it symbolises, it is spectacular.

I still think 200 Greenwich street is better though

[dogma555 187]

Originally posted by: Callbat

The freedom tower is alright, but it shouldn't be built in the first place. One would think the site would be respected,  a statue or something, respecting the lives of the thousands who died. But NOOO, harbouring that good 'ol American spirit they are building another big, huge tower. And the name is very poorly chosen. The is capitalism at its worst.quote>

I disagree with you there.. I guess some might see it like this, but this is also the World Trade Center we are talking about here. What kind of image would we be setting as a nation if our WTC was destroyed and we simply decided NOT to rebuild it?

Also, I thought I saw a picture of the Libeskind building once in someones screenshot. Does anyone have this, or plans to BAT this or the United Artchitects design? The Freedom Tower is still my fav, and I also like the other new buildings around it:

[panthersimcity4 162]

OMG that Holl one is so ugly I literally felt like barfing.

I like the Freedom Tower design... it's pretty neat. However I do like the Peterson/Littenburg one.