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HISTORY OF BIG SUR COAST

  A new dawn:              Locals had long called for a road along the coast to aid shipwreck victims and improve access to isolated communities.  Construction started in 1919, and 18 years, 32 tonnes of dynamite and 33 bridges later, the Big Sur stretch of California Highway One was complete.               The implausible route, with its myriad twists and turns and dramatic drop-offs, became an instant classic.  The author and painter Henry Miller fled to Big Sur in 1944 and stayed for nearly two decades.  Photographer Edward Weston and Beat Generation bard Jack Kerouac fell under its spell.  By the late 1960’s San Francisco’s counterculture revolution had swept down to Big Sur, and the likes of Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell performed on the cliff tops.              ...
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AQUA TOWER

 

Aqua Tower:

Aqua Tower


                         Inspired by the waves that ripple across nearby Lake Michigan, the balconies of Chicago’s Aqua Tower seem to spiral into the heavens.

                        Think of modern Architecture and shiny surfaces, hard edges and sharp angles come to mind.  But think again – modern design often uses natural forms, putting nature and eco-friendly elements at the heart of a building.  Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi was the first to make use of irregular curves and motifs.  Then, in Fallingwater, designed in 1935, Frank Lloyd Wright showed how nature can be an integral part of a home with a modern look and geometric shape.

                           Modern materials such as glass, concrete and steel freed architects from the tyranny of load-bearing walls.  Le Corbusier, doyenne of modern architects, codified this in his five tenets: elevate the building to keep the ground open below; use the roof to reclaim space for nature; place walls where they look best; use horizontal windows; and design the facade freely.

Where on earth?

                              Aqua is on North Columbus Drive in downtown Chicago, at the point where the Chicago River meets Lake Michigan.  It is adjacent to Lakeshore Park and the Loop Business District and within walking distance of the theatre district and most of the city’s major museums.

Location: 225 N Columbus Dr, Chicago, IL 60601, USA

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