Different shades of green for two LEED condo projects (original) (raw)

Architecture Tue Oct 14 2008

With the green movement diversifying everyday, aesthetic definitions of what a green project looks like are changing everyday. The two projects below, while not as spectacularly designed as the bank-busting Chicago Spire, are extraordinary for the way in which they represent the growth of the green building movement. Both projects are seeking LEED Certification, yet the aesthetics employed by each architect differ greatly.

The first project, the Ecologic Lofts in Bucktown chooses the sleek, modern aesthetic that has accompanied other green projects such as Helmut Jahn's SRO project. Wind turbines and a glossy facade help complete motif. Contrast this with the Eco18 project under construction in the South Loop. Ornamented cornices and a base designed for street level shops sets this building firmly in classical genre. One green feature of note is that this building includes both geothermal to provide heated air and solar power for heating water.

As the green movement matures, vernacular development should continue to expand approaches to design.

(Left: The Ecologic Lofts, Right: Eco18)