Millennium Park

Visited the Millennium Park this afternoon. It was simply amazing.

Michigan avenue was like a great divider - on the west are all tall sky scrapers, one the east is greenery. 

The famous Bean is here. It was very interesting to see that a simple idea like that could be so powerful people magnet. I think it is the different perspectives and distortions that it provides. Also, the architect has been very smart about providing an inner recess (second picture) so that though the Bean is completely reflective, its contours are always very clear. Also, the participatory nature adds to the appeal - people can go near it, touch it, stand under it, kiss it, do whatever....

This last point was also evident in the other works there. For example the crown fountain. It is a giant water wall made of glad panels which are lit from behind by LEDs. It displays faces of everyday Chicagoans. There are two level of participation here - the pictures themselves and that people can go play in the fountain.