860–880 Lake Shore Drive Apartments, Glass and steel residential towers in Streeterville, Chicago, United States
The 860–880 Lake Shore Drive complex comprises two identical 26-story towers with floor-to-ceiling windows that reveal the steel framework supporting them. About 400 residential units occupy both buildings, which sit directly on the shore of Lake Michigan.
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe designed these towers in 1949, introducing a new architectural approach to North America that featured steel and glass as primary materials. The project demonstrated that this design philosophy could work effectively in residential buildings.
The towers show how residential high-rises can feel open and airy through expansive windows and uncluttered layouts. Visitors immediately notice the clear structure and how natural light fills the interiors.
The two towers sit directly on the lakefront with easy access to nearby beaches and parks. Visitors should note that the buildings are primarily residential, though public areas are visible from outside.
The tower facades display visible steel beams that do not actually carry the building's weight but serve to emphasize the design philosophy. This deliberate expression of structure was Mies' way of showcasing how buildings are honestly constructed.
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