Discuss this month's topic in detail here. :) Feel free to post pictures.

For actual nominations to count, they must be posted in the nominate (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=476605) thread.

There are many but for Asia, I like Cheung Kong best ;)

http://www.skyscrapers.cn/images/asia/cn/hk/Cheung_Kong_Centre2.jpg

http://hk.geocities.com/hshdavid/night/N036-a.JPG

HSBC Tower is a very nice 'box':

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/37/117784879_a974815d69_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/15/68960254_903350b39c_o.jpg

TD Tower, Toronto - By Ludwig Mies van der Rohe


http://farm1.static.flickr.com/165/408265581_45a89d2f89.jpg

Taken by: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ocad123/408265581/


http://www.skyscraperpicture.com/toronto26.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/102/303331056_f27052d7da.jpg

Does the Jardine House count?

http://*************************/hong%20kong/jpgs/hong_kong_building_mcrae06_03.jpg

Jardine is technically not a box. Look at the top.

Wasn't TD modeled after Seagram? They were both designed by Mies.

Jardine is technically not a box. Look at the top.

Wasn't TD modeled after Seagram? They were both designed by Mies.

True cause I had a debate in another thread on whether The John Hancock in Chicago was considered a box scraper.

Despite the seemingly 'simple' architecture, Seagram was a very expensive building to build and to maintain :

Built in 1958 at a cost of $41 million, the Seagram Building is the only skyscraper in New York designed by Mies van der Rohe, the prince of International Style architecture, and Philip Johnson, who was then his acolyte. The architect was given an unlimited budget for the project at the urging of Phyllis Lambert, the daughter of Samuel Bronfman, Seagram's chairman.

The Seagram Building was the most expensive office tower of its day. And it is still an expensive gem. The bronze exterior of the building is oiled once a year by hand and the terrazzo floors in the elevator lobbies are polished once a month.

Excerpt from 'On Park Avenue, Another Trophy Changes Hands', 12 October 2000 New York Times

HK has other nice box scrapers

http://www.skyscraperpicture.com/hongkong039.jpg

Other than Cheung Kong, you have the golden clad Far Eastern Financial Centre and The Bank of America Tower

http://www.cellular-news.com/images/press/neonsign5.jpg

Wan Chai's waterfront skyline has some several box scrapers including the Immigration and Renevue Towers, China Resources Building, Sun Hung Kai Centre and Great Eagle Centre.

^ Those boxes are not notable pieces of architecture. They're functional buildings, and their positions so close to each other have resulted in problems. A few years ago, a wind storm resulted in many windows on the government towers being blown right off the structures.

There are a number of really nice boxes in Hong Kong beyond what's in the core. See this thread for pictures : http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=476670

There are quite a lot of boxes in New York, but these few stand out from the repetition and scale.

http://www.globalphotos.org/newyork/20060615/IMG_0734.jpg

Use of glass helps a bit, and the lack of uniformity in the curtains adds a bit of flavour to the building.

http://www.globalphotos.org/newyork/20060701/IMG_3008.jpg

I don't particularly like these two boxes. One is crumbling and the other turned out to be a different colour than the rendering.

http://www.globalphotos.org/newyork/20040825/RIMG9176.jpg

7 WTC, a sleek, modern box. Boxes can still be very interesting with lots of details. Perhaps there are a few around the world that have incorporated additional elements?

http://www.globalphotos.org/newyork/20060910/IMG_4025.jpg

Come to think of it, 7 WTC doesn't look like a cube. The sides look a bit slanted, don't they?

John Hancock Center or isn't it a "box"?

http://www.planet99.com/pix/50_1.jpg

It's not really cubic shape though.

AON center in Chicago has to be :)

It's not really cubic shape though.
A cube it's not. This is a cube
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/149/400318572_201333f3a2.jpg?v=0

The Bank of America building in Hong Kong is hideous. I think the HSBC building in the Pudong District of Shanghai is one of the best.

The Bank of America building in Hong Kong is hideous. I think the HSBC building in the Pudong District of Shanghai is one of the best.

BoA though has an ok lighting effect @ night

Bank of America is a very old building, and quite obsolete in terms of facilities. There are plenty of better boxes in Hong Kong before this one should even be on the radar.

John Hancock Center or isn't it a "box"?

http://www.planet99.com/pix/50_1.jpg


Hmm... not quite.

It's not a pure box shape, which is what this contest is about.

Bank of America is a very old building, and quite obsolete in terms of facilities. There are plenty of better boxes in Hong Kong before this one should even be on the radar.

True there are alot of box scrapers in HK. But Cheung Kong best represents the box scraper in HK because of its architecture, height and is the office of Asia's richest man.

Aon Center Chicago for me

http://www.aviewoncities.com/img/chicago/kveus1882s.jpg

AON reminds me of Toronto's First Canadian Place.

http://www.globalphotos.org/toronto/20050624/RIMG0284.jpg

However, I don't think FCP is a great skyscraper at all. Although the facade is classy, it doesn't last. A lot of maintenance is required, and a slab fell off and onto the streets below recently.

Cheung Kong or HSBC Tower for me. Most of the other 'box' buildings look dull.

Cheung Kong or HSBC Tower for me. Most of the other 'box' buildings look dull.

It has to be Cheung Kong in HK and Citigroup in Shanghai, both are gem. At night, mere words cannot describe the magnificient beauty, lit up so well, simply gorgeous.

does London's HSBC counts?

Cheung Kong or HSBC Tower for me. Most of the other 'box' buildings look dull.

You're talking about the London HSBC, right? The Hong Kong one isn't really abox, although it is a lot more interesting architecturally.

HSBC Tower is a very nice 'box':

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/37/117784879_a974815d69_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/15/68960254_903350b39c_o.jpg

i do like the curved corners...nice touch

You're talking about the London HSBC, right? The Hong Kong one isn't really abox, although it is a lot more interesting architecturally.

Yep - the London one. Has a classy look at dusk/night.

Cheung Kong and HSBC Tower represents the modern box scraper

Isn't the Seagram Building in New York considered to be the symbol of the modern box?

Isn't the Seagram Building in New York considered to be the symbol of the modern box?

True but I was more referring to those built during the late 90s up today. My bad

Isn't the Seagram Building in New York considered to be the symbol of the modern box?

Looks a bit shit that building.

Cheung Kong:

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/5053/hkscreensaver439dm4.jpg

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/3984/hkscreensaver440vm2.jpg

One advantage Cheung Kong has is height. Not just that but it has a nice lighting effect and is also the office of Asia's richest man. Unfortunately, the building partially blocks the BoC when viewing it from the Peak or from the west part of Mid-Levels. :(

Li Ka-shing owns a series of companies, so Cheung Kong is not the only building bearing his influence.

Li Ka-shing owns a series of companies, so Cheung Kong is not the only building bearing his influence.

Yes he does but that's his "Tower of Power" you know what I mean :D

Yes he does but that's his "Tower of Power" you know what I mean :D

Although Li's office is in Cheung Kong Center, Cheung Kong itself does not constitute the largest portion of Li's corporate empire. For example, Hutchison has a bigger representation on the Hang Seng Index. Hutchison's HQ is far more modest.

Although Li's office is in Cheung Kong Center, Cheung Kong itself does not constitute the largest portion of Li's corporate empire. For example, Hutchison has a bigger representation on the Hang Seng Index. Hutchison's HQ is far more modest.

Yes but unfortunately, Hutchinson's HQ lack height :eek:

Yes but unfortunately, Hutchinson's HQ lack height :eek:Hence, your comment that Cheung Kong is the 'tower of power' for Li's corporate empire is wrong.

Not really ~ Cheung Kong Center is the building that identifies Li Ka Shing; his Hong Kong landmark.

Mostly because it's one of the territory's tallest buildings and it's so extravagantly decorated.

Not really ~ Cheung Kong Center is the building that identifies Li Ka Shing; his Hong Kong landmark.

Mostly because it's one of the territory's tallest buildings and it's so extravagantly decorated.

There's a difference between Cheung Kong Center, Cheung Kong the company, and Hutchison the company.

In fact, Cheung Kong's tallest landmark office project in Central district is The Center.

There's a difference between Cheung Kong Center, Cheung Kong the company, and Hutchison the company.

In fact, Cheung Kong's tallest landmark office project in Central district is The Center.

And yes The Center is more of a landmark than Cheung Kong.

Anyway, Cheung Kong to me best represent the Asian boxed scraper.

There's a difference between Cheung Kong Center, Cheung Kong the company, and Hutchison the company.

In fact, Cheung Kong's tallest landmark office project in Central district is The Center.

Indeed, but it doesn't hold the name "Cheung Kong", nor is, as The Wanch mentioned, Li Ka Shing's office situated at the top of it.

Indeed, but it doesn't hold the name "Cheung Kong", nor is, as The Wanch mentioned, Li Ka Shing's office situated at the top of it.

Li Ka-shing's corporate empire actually extends beyond his realm these days. He has 2 sons that are assuming portions of his business interests, so although to the outsider, it may all be Li Ka-shing, reality is that is not the whole story. Then there are all those outsider interests that have come into the picture as 3G fortunes turned sour in Europe and they need to pad earnings every year.

Trump Building New York

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/8122/accpsac9.jpg

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/8422/240420040430image0049ap9.jpg

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/6934/240420040430image0050hf7.jpg

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/4701/chryslertrumpesb123marcgl8.jpg

I've always wondered how could the Trump go from gold in the renderings to black in the actual creation? The gold looked fairly nice.

The actual black version doesn't look that bad at all. In fact you can mistake the building for an office tower rather than a condo.

The actual black version doesn't look that bad at all. In fact you can mistake the building for an office tower rather than a condo.

That can be said for any glass-plated residential, such as Highcliff and Summit in Hong Kong, and there are a lot of others out there.

But to be honest, I find The Trump building ok. Nothing more.

Citigroup in Shanghai. [Edit: I realized that I said HSBC on page 1 ;), but it's Citigroup] That building is marvelous.

Citigroup in Shanghai. [Edit: I realized that I said HSBC on page 1 ;), but it's Citigroup] That building is marvelous.

The building looks ok though it has a nice video effect at night.

That can be said for any glass-plated residential, such as Highcliff and Summit in Hong Kong, and there are a lot of others out there.

Not really...

Summit and Highcliff have a more 'residential' shape to it.

Not really...

Summit and Highcliff have a more 'residential' shape to it.
The all-window facade is not common among residentials. Only high-end ones tend to have that type of face.

The floorplate and shapes are very different from the other typical residentials, even among many of the high-end ones.

http://www.building.com.hk/feature/04_03highcliff.pdf

Many residentials in Hong Kong have little nooks on the side where kitchen and bathroom windows face for ventilation, but there are no views.

140 William Street in Melbourne:
http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/pictures/0/0/2/im/pi002046.jpg

I've always wondered how could the Trump go from gold in the renderings to black in the actual creation? The gold looked fairly nice.

it was intended to do that in ifferent lights but failed:lol: ... i used to hate the trump world tower but actualy i quite like it...

The all-window facade is not common among residentials. Only high-end ones tend to have that type of face.

The floorplate and shapes are very different from the other typical residentials, even among many of the high-end ones.

http://www.building.com.hk/feature/04_03highcliff.pdf

Many residentials in Hong Kong have little nooks on the side where kitchen and bathroom windows face for ventilation, but there are no views.

Of course, but what I meant was that Highcliff and Summit, despite their flashy appearance don't even remotely look like office blocks. Perhaps it's because of location and the fact that I live here, but I've asked tourist friends of mine and they immediately pointed out it was most probably a residential.

Don't know what exactly it is, maybe it's the curvature? But many office buildings are curved, yet you can identify them as office blocks.

The Trump Tower at first glance definitely looks like an office block, where as your 'doubts are with' the Highcilff/Summit.

Of course, but what I meant was that Highcliff and Summit, despite their flashy appearance don't even remotely look like office blocks. Perhaps it's because of location and the fact that I live here, but I've asked tourist friends of mine and they immediately pointed out it was most probably a residential.

Don't know what exactly it is, maybe it's the curvature? But many office buildings are curved, yet you can identify them as office blocks.

The Trump Tower at first glance definitely looks like an office block, where as your 'doubts are with' the Highcilff/Summit.

Highcliff is made up of ellipses. A commercial tower of that size won't be perched up along the hillside like that. Hence, it's quite easy to think it's not an office building right away. Had it been on more level ground, it will look very office-like in nature. Residential buildings don't tend to use so much glass, but this one is special because of the location.

Trump in New York looks like an office block because it resembles one of those Mies boxes but stretched taller. Besides, it's mixed with other similar commercial buildings in the area while the residentials have a more concrete or brick look.

140 William Street in Melbourne:
http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/pictures/0/0/2/im/pi002046.jpg

There's a scraper similar to that in Milwaukee.

US Bank Tower, Milwaukee Wisconsin

http://www.dennisflood.com/photos/gallery/milwaukee_wisconsin/large/mke-waterfront-9285.jpg

A more extreme example of the 'X' bracing pattern :

http://www.globalphotos.org/chicago/20061105/IMG_1657.jpg

Whats with the x-bracing trend?

I don't know any of their names, but one of those old buildigns in New york. Those are beautiful!

#1 HSBC (HK
#2 TWT (NYC)
#3 7 WTC
#4 Aon center (chicago)
#5...

2 words... GRAN TOKYO
http://www.re-port.net/picture_l/report/0000014183_00.jpghttp://i49.tinypic.com/ve57ps.jpghttp://www.jreast.co.jp/recruit/student/business/image/img_lifeservice/p_lifeservice_11.jpg
http://i49.tinypic.com/j8nset.jpg

Warsaw, Intraco II and Marriott hotel

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3526/3771326248_6fd8f60aa0_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3547/3406298030_f53ddb2c3a_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2037/3536465006_dc84744a00_b.jpg

Hotel Intercontinental

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3196/2597664185_5aa048af22_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2673/4128226937_1da5c90cfd_b.jpg

One Raffles Quay Singapore
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1041/1312952986_9be3648c96_b.jpg

South tower in brussels!

http://www.time-bandits.be/images/2008/Ronde%2006%20Vraag%2002.jpg
http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab272/Miike____/BrusselWest548.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2675/3730759518_117e3ab386.jpg

or the finanial tower
http://reshapeproperties.com/data/cropped/500_500/Financietoren1.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/202/487046066_050225f8e4.jpg?v=0
http://www.renotec.be/UserFiles/Image/Financietoren%20brussel.jpg
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4SUBRP4fY2Q/SYScq5LjytI/AAAAAAAADsI/c7JqbSFC0jU/DSCN1210.JPG
http://www.breevast.be/data/images//referenties/9/9_1244551521_183.jpg

CAPSQUARE | Kuala Lumpur

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4085/4833953593_869d7ae547_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/4631733340_81c39976ec_o.jpg
by msyukry08

Aon Center, Chicago

The Trade and Financial Tower, Philippines

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/2433/dsc00709pk.jpg (http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/2433/dsc00709pk.jpg)

http://img.tootoo.com/mytootoo/upload/10/108539/product/108539_1de8e65c5a3e6b44594fe0c1c39deded.jpg (http://img.tootoo.com/mytootoo/upload/10/108539/product/108539_1de8e65c5a3e6b44594fe0c1c39deded.jpg)

@normand

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7142/6591349081_b10f645774.jpg (http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7142/6591349081_b10f645774.jpg)

Swiss Life Tower - Lyon
(so cuuuute :lovethem:)


http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4078/4812060705_7c71ae1331_z.jpg
flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mafate69/4812060705/sizes/z/in/photostream/)

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4092/5073074536_ede9a440a5_z.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pbmlight/5073074536/sizes/z/in/photostream/

City of Capitals: Moscow(302m), Moscow

http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/4210/parktower99911.13/0_327aa_8de240ac_XL.jpg

http://pics.livejournal.com/mordolff/pic/003hasa6

nice!

The Office at CentralWorld, Bangkok

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t272/noron87501/IMGP4243Medium.jpg

http://www.banbkk.org/article/art_240437.jpg

http://www.krugerfan.com/images/projects/thai-tower.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7146/6424275685_390483c744.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/iprahin/6424275685/)
Dusk View of Rajaprasong & Rajadamri #1 | Bangkok (http://www.flickr.com/photos/iprahin/6424275685/) by I Prahin | www.southeastasia-images.com (http://www.flickr.com/people/iprahin/), on Flickr

nice pics

Most of the boxes posted here (with the exception of a few) are quite hideous and fitting to the ugly skyscrapers thread :nuts:

ZUELLIG BUILDING - MAKATI , PHILIPPINES

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7192/6952730656_72e89c22b5_b.jpghttp://

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7114/7007678803_4aa6f39446_b.jpghttp://

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8005/7106222947_d2499a2fca_b.jpghttp://

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u102/raph_ahr/IMG_0646.jpghttp://



http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KpMHcN9XvnU/T59VAtH_iHI/AAAAAAAABmo/mqeHDKrXhf4/s1600/IMG_8482.jpghttp://

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7104/7348655838_8eed079975_b.jpghttp://

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5470/7203297648_b7d0335abd_z.jpghttp://

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4D65jYumBMg/T63GMInJXOI/AAAAAAAAChc/Cq5D7IF6oLM/s800/P1000082.JPGhttp://

List (excluding the fallen WTC and Sears since it is not really a box)

1. Trump World Tower, NYC
2. City National Plaza, Los Angeles
3. IBM Center, Chicago
4. TD Center, Toronto
5. First Canadian Place, Toronto
6. Tour Areva, La Defence
7. Aviva Tower, London
8. 7WTC, NYC
9. Burlington House, NYC
10. Kluczynski Federal Building, Chicago

I could list so many more... I love boxy buildings.

The John Hancock Tower in Boston. It's actually a parallelogram (so, more of a box that has been broken down and somewhat folded in) but it still deserves recognition as probably the best minimalist building in existence. From many angles it looks 2 dimensional and it is the original glass curtain skyscraper that denies all existence of its construction underneath. (no spandrel, with the largest glass panes possible)

http://i424.photobucket.com/albums/pp322/DZH22/1BostonVacations/IMG_1801.jpg

http://i424.photobucket.com/albums/pp322/DZH22/1BostonVacations/IMG_1808.jpg

City of Capitals: Moscow(302m) and Saint Petersburg(261m)
http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?searchID=57103551