A daily blog on architecture in Chicago, and other topics cultural, political and mineral.
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Monday, April 06, 2009
Buckingham Fountain Re-opens: Gravel Banished
Is it possible to have too much sparkly brick paving?
As always, with those pesky Beaux Arts planners, its a question of scale. Maybe too much sparkle for several hundred fountain-watchers. But just enough for a Chicago Icon -- gravel or sparkle, size matters.
So is diversity. The more I look at it, the more I get the sense that the massive monotonous carpet of brick paving doesn't so much complement the grandeur of Buckingham Fountain as suffocate it.
More down market suburban crap from the ever growing mindless chicago esthetic-!! Has no one that works for the parks commission ever seen or studied the great garden parks of PARIS?? Or maybe the some the recent park renovations in NYC?! Its soooooooo obvious the delicate sandy grave is not perfect - like a paved highway would be- but that is not the point of garden park. Chicago's current vision is at an all time low. The city no longer represents a higher vision of art and culture for provinces to aspire too.... now it's on the very same level- suburban shopping mall.
I went there two days ago. It is an impressive expanse of pavers bordering on overwhelming.
But it's the best solution I could think of to make the fountain easily accessible to all people. My sister has cerebral palsy and has never been able to visit the fountain because it was too far of an expanse for her to cover on unpaved, hard to navigate little rocks.
I haven't seen it in person yet and I want to give it a chance before judging it.
However, I have a concern. Specifically, why are we finding out about this change AFTER it has been executed?
For such a major change to such a major Chicago space, shouldn't there have been some discussion? Shouldn't there have been a debate about the surface BEFORE the change was made.
This is another example of the Park District making decisions without public input. This decision-making style has brought us the sickening soccer stadium in Lincoln Park and other lemons.
Hey, maybe showed it to Bob O'Neill and counted that as a public process.
The brick looks more regal and grand, admirable and ambitious, exalted and glorious, illustrious and luxurious, magnificent and majestic, marvelous and monumental, noble and outstanding, splendid and stately, striking and sumptuous. Yes, it is all those things.
The pink gravel at Buckingham PALACE disagrees: http://www.reggie.net/photos/england/london/buckingham_palace/090410-092743-0005_grenadier_guard_sentry_box_buckingham_palace_london-600.jpg
They could've thrown in some unilock pavers there too... wonder why they didn't.
Is it possible to have too much sparkly brick paving?
Would it have been so hard to have split faces, and, you know, TEXTURE?
ReplyDeleteHaaaaate it. Michael Fus should be ashamed for selling out to Unilock.
Well, I hated the gravel, and so did my rollerblades. This has to be better.
ReplyDeleteYou raise an interesting point. Is Buckingham Fountain Chicago's newest Skateboarding Park?
ReplyDeleteNot if you are in a wheelchair.
ReplyDeleteIts so fugly i want to puke. The gravel was so much classier and garden setting.
ReplyDeleteAs always, with those pesky Beaux Arts planners, its a question of scale. Maybe too much sparkle for several hundred fountain-watchers. But just enough for a Chicago Icon -- gravel or sparkle, size matters.
ReplyDeleteSo is diversity. The more I look at it, the more I get the sense that the massive monotonous carpet of brick paving doesn't so much complement the grandeur of Buckingham Fountain as suffocate it.
ReplyDeleteOne would think that they could find a balance between hard surface and the traadional Versailles-style gravel, This is tres overpowering.
ReplyDeletei hated that damn gravel--always in my shoe...it would take the french to come up with that idea.
ReplyDeleteMore down market suburban crap from the ever growing mindless chicago esthetic-!! Has no one that works for the parks commission ever seen or studied the great garden parks of PARIS?? Or maybe the some the recent park renovations in NYC?! Its soooooooo obvious the delicate sandy grave is not perfect - like a paved highway would be- but that is not the point of garden park. Chicago's current vision is at an all time low. The city no longer represents a higher vision of art and culture for provinces to aspire too.... now it's on the very same level- suburban shopping mall.
ReplyDeleteI went there two days ago. It is an impressive expanse of pavers bordering on overwhelming.
ReplyDeleteBut it's the best solution I could think of to make the fountain easily accessible to all people. My sister has cerebral palsy and has never been able to visit the fountain because it was too far of an expanse for her to cover on unpaved, hard to navigate little rocks.
I think it was a good solution.
I haven't seen it in person yet and I want to give it a chance before judging it.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I have a concern. Specifically, why are we finding out about this change AFTER it has been executed?
For such a major change to such a major Chicago space, shouldn't there have been some discussion? Shouldn't there have been a debate about the surface BEFORE the change was made.
This is another example of the Park District making decisions without public input. This decision-making style has brought us the sickening soccer stadium in Lincoln Park and other lemons.
Hey, maybe showed it to Bob O'Neill and counted that as a public process.
Boston City Hall Plaza redux. Or, now I've moved to Seattle, Red Square at the UW. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteI like the brick pavers by the fountain. The gravel made it look like the place was under construction. Now there is a nice clean crisp finished feel.
ReplyDeleteThe petanque players of the world must have been greatly saddened by this alteration. The former gravel at the Buck was perfect for petanque.
ReplyDeleteThe brick looks more regal and grand, admirable and ambitious, exalted and glorious, illustrious and luxurious, magnificent and majestic, marvelous and monumental, noble and outstanding, splendid and stately, striking and sumptuous. Yes, it is all those things.
ReplyDeleteThe pink gravel at Buckingham PALACE disagrees: http://www.reggie.net/photos/england/london/buckingham_palace/090410-092743-0005_grenadier_guard_sentry_box_buckingham_palace_london-600.jpg
ReplyDeleteThey could've thrown in some unilock pavers there too... wonder why they didn't.