Chicago, city of architecture

Dating back to the 19th century, Chicago was a strategic commercial hub in the United States but that was not enough, the urban image of this city got to be more interesting and innovative, focusing on urban architecture and the recreational sector.

After the unfortunate and tragic Great Chicago Fire in 1871, several and popular European architects came to rebuild ‘the city with style’ widely adopting art-decò, neo-classicism, post-modernism, industrial and international styles.

Chicago, city of urban architecture, bridges, buildings but also modern urban sculptures made of leftover construction materials and placed in squares or inside buildings. Nowadays, the sustainable approach of this metropolis under continuous construction is 100% waste-free and environmentally friendly.

Which are the most impressive buildings? It is very difficult to answer this question as there are many of them… The Sears Tower, for example, was the tallest building in the world (until 1998), now the Barj Khalifa in Dubai is almost double its height, i.e. 828 meters and 159 floors compared to the 110 floors of the Sears Tower.

Not to forget, the Marina City, two circular-plan skyscrapers offering car parking on the lowest floors while offices and apartments on the highest floors. Again, the three St. Regis design hotel’s buildings are really interesting: three different, undulating shapes and structures, reports say, ‘like Lake Michigan in ‘Windy City’ Chicago’.

Also, The Aqua skyscraper’s irregular and rounded structure deflects the strong wind between terraces and walls. Chicago’s urban architecture is absolutely innovative, making peripheral areas more accessible and liveable for both residents and tourists, following new regeneration plans.

Chicago is a metropolis which has nothing to compare, promoting its identity and culture…because it is a ‘city with style’, not a mass tourism destination.