Federal Reserve Bank
Boston, Massachusetts
Hugh Stubbins, arch, 1977

Boston is better known for the iconic Hancock tower by I.M. Pei--which is on it's own account great--, but this, for me, is the quintessence of clean, functional, honest and at the same time sculptural high-rise architecture. The functions are so legible, the lines so clean.
The 'supporting' functions--in every sense of the term-- are all within the two vertical pillars, between which the floors/column-free working spaces are spanned. The two-storey opening at the bottom reinforces the functional separation between the body and the base, as well as breaking down the mass, making the whole structure visibly much lighter.
The triangular sun-screens which allow for solar gain only in the winter also break up the wind, thus making the plaza in front much more comfortable (while also giving the building the nickname 'The Washboard').

Tags:   2014.08.12 600d boston massachusets federal reserve bank hugh stubbins metal cladding high rise skyscraper hochhaus hugh stubbins frb aluminum facade boston architecture architektur

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Citicorp Tower, 1976-1978
New York City
Hugh Stubbins, Architect

My interest in the building attracted the attention of somebody within the structure, who sent a security guard out to forbid me from taking pictures while on their side of the street. He personally was of a different opinion, but felt his job security had a higher priority.

Tags:   2012.07.27 hugh stubbins citicorp new york city nyc aluminum base basis shaft feet columns tower skyscraper hochhaus black white architecture architektur modern

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Citicorp Tower, 1976-1978
New York City
Hugh Stubbins, Architect

esp. for Tom.

I found it interesting to see how the two buildings handled the need for public space at the base of the structures and how a local 'single-column' vernacular evolved.

Tags:   2012.07.27 citicorp building new york city nyc aluminum skyscraper modern architecture plaza setback public space cladding metal stilts column columns architektur hugh stubbins edward barnes lexington avenue

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Seagram Building, 1954-1958
Park Avenue, NYC
Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe, Philip Johnson, Architects

Citicorp Center, 1978
Lexington Ave. NYC
Hugh Stubbins, Architect

This one is for Tom, who might be as happy as I was to get both of these great structures in one frame.

Tags:   2012.07.27 hugh stubbins ludwig mies van der rohe new york nyc seagram building citicorp tower center park avenue morning black white monolith

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Seagram Building, 1954-1958
Park Avenue, NYC
Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe, Philip Johnson, Architects

Citicorp Center, 1978
Lexington Ave. NYC
Hugh Stubbins, Architect

I usually never do this (post a color and b&w version of the same image), and I still prefer the b&w version to this as it has more atmosphere, but I wanted at least one more shot showing that beautiful bronze color.

Tags:   2012.07.27 mies van der rohe ludwig hugh stubbins seagram citicorp tower center skyscraper hochhaus steel aluminium bronze color new york city plaza park avenue modern modernist stahl philip johnson

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