Marina City, Chicago

Architect Bertrand Goldberg clearly had a soft spot for curves鈥攃orners just weren鈥檛 his thing. His vision came to life in these two delightfully odd towers that locals lovingly (or sarcastically) call "the corncobs." But Goldberg insisted they were sunflowers鈥攅ach curved balcony a petal unfurling toward the skyline. And just like that, he gave the stiff, boxy International Style of the 1950s a cheeky little poke in the eye.

At a time when most city folks were heading for the land of white picket fences and two-car garages, Goldberg and the Building Service Employees International Union took a bold guess: not everyone wanted suburbia. Especially not the single, the childless, or the workplace-adjacent. Turns out they were right. The complex took root, made waves, and soon became one of the most photographed architectural oddballs in the Windy City.

But Goldberg didn鈥檛 stop at funky balconies. To lure people into what was then a gritty, rail-heavy part of town, he went full visionary. Picture this: a theater, a skating rink, a bowling alley, a pool, a marina, offices, a restaurant, shops, even a health club鈥攁ll under one roof, or at least in one cluster of concrete. The slogan鈥斺€淎 city within a city鈥濃€攚as a not-so-subtle jab at the suburbs, where nightlife meant folding laundry...

Built between 1964 and 1968, the towers are still going strong, filled with condos that offer jaw-dropping views and, let鈥檚 be honest, some real furniture-arrangement challenges. The first 19 floors are virtually 鈥渟piral parking garages鈥� you either love or fear. Today, the complex is home to six restaurants, Hotel Chicago, the House of Blues, and yes, its very own marina.

Basically, these are not corncobs. They are concrete sunflowers that party in the middle of the urban jungle!

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Chicago. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Marina City
Sight Location: Chicago, USA (See walking tours in Chicago)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Loop District Architecture Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Chicago, Illinois

Create Your Own Walk in Chicago

Creating your own self-guided walk in Chicago is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Loop District Architecture Walking Tour

The Chicago Loop District鈥攅ssentially the city鈥檚 historic downtown鈥攈as long been a stage for architectural innovation and an open-air museum of American architecture.

The construction boom started after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which destroyed much of the central business district, gave architects a blank canvas to rebuild the city from the ground up. What followed was a surge of... view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles

Chicago Introduction Walking Tour

Chicago, perched on the shores of Lake Michigan in Illinois, is a city steeped in history and urban vibrancy. Known by numerous nicknames such as the Windy City and the City of Big Shoulders, it boasts a skyline marked by towering structures. The area of today's Chicago, initially inhabited by Native American tribes, saw its first European-settled reference as "Chicagou" in 1679, a... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles

Chicago Navy Pier Walking Tour

Additional to scenic views of the lake, the boats, and the city skyline, the Navy Pier offers a variety of attractions on the waterfront 鈥� for kids as well as adults 鈥� that draw nearly ten million people annually, making this Chicago's most visited spot. Yes, some may see it as a 鈥渢ourist trap鈥�, but it is worth the time and money to spend some time here, so take this self-guided walk... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles

The Magnificent Mile Walking Tour

The stretch of Michigan Avenue from the Chicago River to Lake Shore Drive, otherwise known as the Magnificent Mile, is regarded as one of the world鈥檚 great avenues 鈥� or Chicago鈥檚 version of Fifth Avenue. Take this self-guided walk to explore its whole stretch and surrounding area, featuring a wide selection of amazing stores/malls, world-known museums, restaurants and spectacular... view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles

Chicago Chinatown Walking Tour

Tucked away just south of the Loop, the Chinatown of Chicago was established in 1912 and is considered one of the best examples of American Chinatown. While it may be one of Chicago鈥檚 smallest neighborhoods geographically, it is big on character, colors, sights, sounds, and flavors. Here, you鈥檒l find a wide range of unique boutiques, specialty shops, religious sights, authentic Chinese... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles

University of Chicago Walking Tour

Founded in 1890, the University of Chicago is among the world鈥檚 most prestigious educational institutions. As of 2020, the University鈥檚 students, faculty and staff have included 100 Nobel laureates, giving it the fourth-most affiliated Nobel laureates of any university.

Set in the heart of Chicago鈥檚 famous eclectic neighborhood, Hyde Park, the campus is worth a visit as it offers a... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles

View all walking tours in Chicago, Illinois

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