New York's Fourth Iconic Skyscraper

**pianoman11686** · July 16th, 2006, 10:18 PM

I just finished reading that post on skyscrapercity. True ablarc, and truly exceptional. By far the most informative and learned piece of writing assembled on that forum (that I've ever encountered, anyway).

**Fabrizio** · July 17th, 2006, 03:02 AM

STREETWALLS OF PARIS

^^^Oh my! A "must read" and worth printing out.

**ablarc** · July 18th, 2006, 07:49 PM

^ Thanks, guys. Thought about posting it here, but figured it wouldn't get much response.

**TREPYE** · July 20th, 2006, 02:12 AM

^ Nice work Ablarc. I love how you put in to perspective the classy and respectful work of early 19th century architecture in contrast to the doldrums of modernist architecture. Some of those pics really made me want to go and visit Paris. What beautiful & detailed architecture! One thing it definitely does is it emboldens me to appreciate old time architecture and abhor modernism even more at the same time.

**ablarc** · July 25th, 2006, 07:06 AM

Originally Posted by TREPYE

...it emboldens me to appreciate old time architecture and abhor modernism even more at the same time.

The progressive-liberal-in-me's first impulse is to exclaim, "how can you blanket condemn a whole architectural movement"...but on reflection I realize how much harm Modernism has done to the city. Without it, we could still have the City Beautiful.

**finnman69** · July 25th, 2006, 06:44 PM

Originally Posted by Scruffy88

without a doubt citicorp-citigroup. This was the tower of the 70s and 80s and then in the past decade, everyone has forgotten about it. I grew up loving it, loving the slant. Every city i've ever drawn has a slanting tower in it. It doesn't feel right without it. Worldwide, you see the slanting white roof, you know its NYC. you can't say the same for anything else on that list except for the UN Building which makes a close 5

Very recognizable to NYC. The first modern skyscraper to break the flat roof plane in NYC. Iconic it is. Not in the same category as ESB or Chrysler, but part of the skyline if you want to consider buildings that impact the skyline.

**kz1000ps** · July 25th, 2006, 07:29 PM

I can't remember where I heard it, but I'm guessing it was someone on this forum that called the above building "gronky," which I think fits it perfectly. Not bad, not great, it's just gronky, lol. The equivalent of Boston's Prudential Center in the Bladerunner era.

**finnman69** · July 25th, 2006, 11:48 PM

Originally Posted by kznyc2k

That's a gorgeous (and accurate) rendering of the Citicorp Center.

And for the record, I'm kz1000ps. kz is my online handle of sorts, and nyc2k was tagged on for this forum to be "contextual to its surroundings."

He's the master, old school, but tempera renderings are gorgeous. So much richer than anything from 3D studio.