Thejesus Member Username: Thejesus
Post Number: 958 Registered: 06-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 2:33 pm: | |
I don't think these have been posted yet...sorry if they have...they might take a while to load but are pretty good quality I've really never liked the design of this casino, but these two don't look that bad to me... http://ww1.prweb.com/prfiles/2 007/02/14/505231/casinorenderi ng.JPG http://ww1.prweb.com/prfiles/2 007/02/14/505231/casinorenderi ng2.JPG |
Detroitplanner Member Username: Detroitplanner
Post Number: 1202 Registered: 04-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 2:39 pm: | |
Where's the Beef!?! (Carl's) |
Emu_steve Member Username: Emu_steve
Post Number: 242 Registered: 11-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 3:03 pm: | |
fascinating. It seems to blend in really well with the freeway and Grand River. Looks like it adds a lot more visual appeal then what a Greektown-type Hotel Casino would. |
Gistok Member Username: Gistok
Post Number: 4147 Registered: 08-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 3:09 pm: | |
WOW!!! I like it!! It keeps original architect Walter A. Ahlschlager's 1915 architectural details, and also adds them to the hotel tower. Ahlschlager was most famous for his 1927 massive Roxy Theatre in NYC (5,620 seats, razed in 1961), and for his 1930 Carew Tower Complex in Cincinnati (similar to our massive Fisher Building complex). This design is sort of a composite of early 20th and early 21st century design that has been merged together in a very unusual and INNOVATIVE way. 2 thumbs up!!! |
Spiritofdetroit Member Username: Spiritofdetroit
Post Number: 395 Registered: 11-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 3:09 pm: | |
The more work being done on that building, the more I am starting to like it... Adding a bit of character to the glass box... I like it |
Quinn Member Username: Quinn
Post Number: 1239 Registered: 01-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 3:37 pm: | |
Are they tearing down Carl's chophouse for better freeway sight-lines? Looks like it in that last rendering. It's very ostentatious...I hate to say but I think I like it? OMG what am I saying? |
Quinn Member Username: Quinn
Post Number: 1240 Registered: 01-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 3:40 pm: | |
Oh wait a second...I hate hate hate the matchy matchy detail on the front end of the hotel tower. There's contextual, then there's retarded, disneyland copycat. I'm complaining too much I'm sure. Shut me up. |
Gistok Member Username: Gistok
Post Number: 4148 Registered: 08-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 3:43 pm: | |
Quinn, I don't think they are going to tear down Carl's. They just didn't want it to detract from their casino picture rendering. I wonder if this will end up being the favorite Casino exterior design among forumers... |
Rb336 Member Username: Rb336
Post Number: 20 Registered: 02-2007
| Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 3:56 pm: | |
Are they grafting the McNamara Terminal onto the top of it? |
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup
Post Number: 2038 Registered: 06-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 4:07 pm: | |
I was in Niagara Falls, ON for the weekend and, more than anything else, including architecture, you know what I liked about their casinos? SMOKE FREE!!!! the difference it makes in atmosphere is HUGE! anyone in Detroit have the balls to do it? |
Thejesus Member Username: Thejesus
Post Number: 959 Registered: 06-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 4:12 pm: | |
Detroit making the casinos smoke-free would be the equivalent of 30-year comatose patient waking up, rising out of bed, then shooting himself in both feet... |
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup
Post Number: 2039 Registered: 06-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 4:34 pm: | |
I'd settle for just one being smoke-free. It would save having to go to Windsor. and no, just a smoke-free room or floor doesn't cut it |
Messykitty Member Username: Messykitty
Post Number: 205 Registered: 03-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 4:37 pm: | |
Fug. |
Rsa Member Username: Rsa
Post Number: 1106 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 4:51 pm: | |
i have to agree with quinn a bit on the matchy-matchy. it also seems to be extremely kitchy, but i guess that's sort of the point. i definitely like it better than mgm tho; at least it makes a statement... you're actually hijacking a thread about architecture to whine about casinos being smokey lilpup? give me a break. that's like going to a museum and walking away from it complaining about the bathrooms. |
Goat Member Username: Goat
Post Number: 9357 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 5:03 pm: | |
The streamline look is very nice but it does not match the Wagner Bread facade they are keeping on the building. Still it is better than many that are out there now. It is much nicer looking than Harrah's Casino Windsor looks like. The addition to that casino is horrible! |
Cabasse Member Username: Cabasse
Post Number: 37 Registered: 01-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 5:25 pm: | |
i like. look at all that neon - it's gonna be quite the sight at night. right? ...heh heh lame |
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge
Post Number: 434 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 5:29 pm: | |
I agree, casino's should be smoke free, and women at strip clubs shouldn't be allowed to take their clothes off. |
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge
Post Number: 435 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 5:29 pm: | |
PS we should also do something about all that sand at the beach. It always gets in my shoes. |
Thnk2mch Member Username: Thnk2mch
Post Number: 872 Registered: 02-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 5:33 pm: | |
I just hope that is not EIFS on the tower. |
Southen Member Username: Southen
Post Number: 144 Registered: 08-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 5:34 pm: | |
Its too gimmicky for my liking. And in terms of gimmicky I dont even think its that good. It will still probably end up looking better than MGM but I think the Greektown plans are gonna blow the other two out of the water. |
Adamjab19 Member Username: Adamjab19
Post Number: 771 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 5:47 pm: | |
I think MGM will be the best looking casino! |
Scs100 Member Username: Scs100
Post Number: 882 Registered: 12-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 5:54 pm: | |
I still say it looks like a fish tank. |
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize
Post Number: 938 Registered: 02-2007
| Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 6:00 pm: | |
What about Greektown???? Although it may not have the best renderings, they have provided the best gambling experience according to the public for the several years they've been around. |
Bobj Member Username: Bobj
Post Number: 2000 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 6:22 pm: | |
Looks very flashy! |
Thejesus Member Username: Thejesus
Post Number: 961 Registered: 06-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 7:06 pm: | |
MGM's tower should look nice all lit up but I just can't get over that giant footprint...it's kind of disgusting...the hotel tower takes up about 1/20th of the site...the rest is parking and gaming space that looks more like a warehouse than anything from the outside... I agree with Southen re Greektown...once the glass goes up people will be talking about it...and once the lights go on, forget about it...Greektown also has the best location of the three... |
Peter Member Username: Peter
Post Number: 45 Registered: 02-2007
| Posted on Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 2:11 am: | |
The new Greektown hotel has the best design. This is so-so, but new high rises are new high rises, and these three casinos are three buildings that we know will remain occupied longer than most office buildings in the city. It will be cool to see how this looks when it is completed. |
Scottr Member Username: Scottr
Post Number: 492 Registered: 07-2006
| Posted on Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 2:43 am: | |
I originally thought i'd like the MGM design the best, but as it's neared completion, I've come to the conclusion it's easily the worst. Greektown easily has the best location, but i'm still not sold on the design, which seems to change every time i see a rendering, but still seems better than what MGM has turned out to be. MotorCity, on the other hand, has the worst location, but by these renderings, the best building, IMO. Like Gistok said, the composite of the early 20th century and early 21st styles looks great. I do wish, however, that they had copied more of the details from the original building into the tower. Losing those details makes it look like a cheap knockoff instead of an extension of the original. Some other existing details also seem to be missing from the original part, although I hope that's just the result of an oversimplified rendering, not a plan to remove them. |
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan
Post Number: 5388 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 3:04 am: | |
I'm kind of surprised people would be impressed with those poor renderings. They look very cheap. I'm not a big fan of the MotorCity design, but this is a rare case where the building looks better than the renderings. I'm really kind of disappointed the casino would even let something that cheaply contrived out to the public. |
Stephenvb Member Username: Stephenvb
Post Number: 25 Registered: 02-2006
| Posted on Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 7:53 am: | |
Interesting. From a design point of view, I think the massing, scale, and detailing are best appreciated at speeds of 70 mph which are arguably appropriate for Detroit and this location. I wish more attention was given to human scale/ street level detailing; Maybe some of the original building details were left intact at the entrance? Driving up to this thing, it makes me wonder if a casino could be designed around someone not getting out of their car and simply driving through the casino gambling as they drive. The smooth flowing curves are in interesting gesture to our automotive design heritage, but the grille/front end inference on the Lodge elevation is on the edge of Disneylandesque. I'm waiting for the "Cars" inspired pistons, wheels, tailpipes references. From a theory point of view, I'm intrigued with this idea of combining contemporary design with historical/early 20th century architecture. While not always popular, the final buildings (in a Blade Runner sort of way) are visually unique. Soldier Field (Chicago) and CMS Energy (Jackson) are a couple local examples. For you fellow 80's buffs, be sure to check out Biff's Pleasure Palace (Hill Valley). I'm not sure how successful Motor City will end up, but it makes me wonder how one would apply this to the Michigan Central... |
Scottr Member Username: Scottr
Post Number: 493 Registered: 07-2006
| Posted on Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 1:56 pm: | |
stevenvb - love the Back to the Future reference although not local (although neither is soldier field) the hearst tower in NYC is another example. I love the combination of old and new, and keeps some of the history of buildings that otherwise would have faced the wrecking ball. It's not ideal in every situation (buildings with ornate interiors, for example), but when it can be done, it creates a unique, memorable building that wouldn't be matched with any modern construction. |
Southen Member Username: Southen
Post Number: 150 Registered: 08-2006
| Posted on Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 2:20 pm: | |
Soldier Field and Hearst Tower (huge fan of) are both great examples of incorporating old and new. MCC doesnt even come close in my mind. I think for the most part they are concealing the details of the old Wonderbread Factory, simply putting a new skin on the building. |
El_jimbo Member Username: El_jimbo
Post Number: 96 Registered: 12-2006
| Posted on Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 2:39 pm: | |
I hate the renovation to Soldier Field with a passion. It looks like a UFO landed in the middle of the old stadium. |
Gistok Member Username: Gistok
Post Number: 4151 Registered: 08-2004
| Posted on Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 3:06 pm: | |
Seeing how the current MotorCity Casino building is 4 stories tall, I'm curious to find out what that rooftop "airport terminal" type construction will be used for. |
Ramcharger Member Username: Ramcharger
Post Number: 231 Registered: 05-2006
| Posted on Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 7:46 pm: | |
I think describing the roofline as “airport terminal type construction” is a bit grandiose. It looks more like the roof of a 1950’s era high school gymnasium. |
Scs100 Member Username: Scs100
Post Number: 885 Registered: 12-2006
| Posted on Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 8:01 pm: | |
Eljimbo, I have to agree. It looks like a UFO landed in the Coliseum. |
Thejesus Member Username: Thejesus
Post Number: 969 Registered: 06-2006
| Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 11:49 am: | |
"It looks like a UFO landed in the Coliseum." you say that like it's a bad thing! ; D |
Thejesus Member Username: Thejesus
Post Number: 970 Registered: 06-2006
| Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 12:05 pm: | |
there's a new MGM Grand Detroit promo video on youtube... it's got some cool shots of the city... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =mSegHSCUyqo |
Mod Member Username: Mod
Post Number: 105 Registered: 07-2004
| Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 1:10 pm: | |
Looks great. Just wish it wasn't a casino. |
Gistok Member Username: Gistok
Post Number: 4153 Registered: 08-2004
| Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 1:38 pm: | |
So far with the Greektown designs, all we've really been shown are a hotel tower and parking structure. Not really sure what the rest will look like. With MGM, it sure does seem rather sprawling. Still waiting to see it first hand for a final judgement. The current MotorCity design is in its 3rd design version. Although I can agree with some of the criticism, we'll just have to judge it when it's done. And yes... there's those curvy carport rooftops again. That does beg the question for architects everywhere.... "since innovation is name of the game, why do you all keep using those same curvy carport rooftops???" |
Thejesus Member Username: Thejesus
Post Number: 1021 Registered: 06-2006
| Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 12:45 pm: | |
hmmm...I don't see any resemblance http://images.search.yahoo.com /search/images/view?back=http% 3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.co m%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Dbiff %2527s%26fr%3Dyfp-t-501%26togg le%3D1%26cop%3Dmss%26ei%3DUTF- 8&w=686&h=960&imgurl=aargon-ne on.com%2Fimages%2FBIFF%27S_lar ge.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Faargo n-neon.com%2Fspecial-effects.h tm&size=439.0kB&name=BIFF%27S_ large.jpg&p=biff%27s&type=jpeg &no=5&tt=808&oid=58709844beb76 f26&ei=UTF-8 |
Stephenvb Member Username: Stephenvb
Post Number: 28 Registered: 02-2006
| Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 12:59 pm: | |
The Hill Valley Courthouse was obliterated... http://www.answers.com/topic/c locktower1985a-png |
Tigers2005 Member Username: Tigers2005
Post Number: 128 Registered: 02-2005
| Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 1:01 pm: | |
I'm touring the new hotel today. I'll try to post some pics soon. |
Thejesus Member Username: Thejesus
Post Number: 1023 Registered: 06-2006
| Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 1:01 pm: | |
ah, thanks... |