“Transparency” is the architectural watchword of the era, almost guaranteed to appear in any reference to contemporary glass-clad towers.But real buildings usually look a lot different than the clear plastic models and crystalline renderings shown at news conferences and ribbon cuttings.
Once in a while, however, when the light and the angles are just right, a skyscraper can come close to vanishing.
That happened last Thursday, when the 52 floors of 7 World Trade Center faded into the cloud-flecked blue of a late summer afternoon. Its masonry neighbors (140 West Street and 90 West Street) stood out in contrast.
Cool effect, kind of eerie.
It makes it harder to deliberately fly into.
But easier to accidentally fly into.
Plus, you can see where they set the explosives for the next time they need to blow it up.
Transparent buildings are also resistant to the directed-energy/particle beam weapons that were used on 9/11.
I see dead buildings!
I can’t wait to see it all completed. Too bad my company didn’t get this job… 🙁
If that were a real picture I’d be impressed.
#3 – Yeah, it’s real. Or, at least it looks real. Don’t it?
I have seen this effect before, just never that transparent. Likely a real photo with ps enhancement.
Nice view of that LEED Gold certified building. The New York Academy of Sciences is on the 40th floor. There are good views from there, which is a nice bonus for any lecture evening.
It’s not actually transparent, it’s just the way it reflects the buildings around it.
Sheesh…
[Well DUH! – ed.]
A transparent foreign policy would be nice. /squirt
What building?
Looks like a new defense argument for court.
#2 – John C Dvorak,
I see dead buildings!
That’s the 9/11 memorial hole in the ground.
Raleigh’s new RBC Plaza (RBC Bank USA HQ) building does this, too.
I say we pull it.
Too bad we don’t do this with all buildings.
Go to the mirror,boy.
Rumor has it that the Romulan Empire will be the prime tenant.