This building, perfectly round in shape - and nicknamed the beer can building by many locals, has always fascinated me and has been the subject of many photographs since it appeared in 1988 on the Hillsborough River at the intersection of Ashley Drive and the Kennedy Street Bridge. Known today as the Rivergate Tower, it is 454-ft (138m) tall and has 33 floors. Designer Harry Wolf based its measurements on the Fibonacci Code, the same numerical code referenced in Dan Brown's blockbuster bestseller book, The Da Vinci Code. Although you'll have to ask an architect or mathematician to explain it - and be prepared for a serious and reverential telling of its significance - at the start of the movie this code was left behind on the floor of the Louvre by the curator, Jacques Saunière, as he looses his life to the albino monk. In his last moments of life, he draws a circle and arranges himself like the figure in Leonardo’s most famous drawing, T
he Vitruvian Man. He then leaves behind an anagram and Fibonacci’s famous numerical series as clues. Apparently, to those in the mathematical know, the Fibonacci Code is very cool, as is Tampa's round office tower. I just really like it against our sky and as a unique and special part of our city's skyline.Visit Skywatch Friday to see the beauty and wonders of the world's most magnificent skies. It's always an amazing show.
11 comments:
And what a fascinating tale you weave to go with a magnificent building against marvelous skies! Great post for SWF!
Have a great weekend!
Sylvia
I really like this building. Nice shot. And how is Dr. Porter doing?
Man, I'll bet there isn't a bad view in the place. Really interesting story to go with it. Nice post Frank.
When will this building go condo already? I'm ready for a duplex penthouse. I took my first tour of its lobby in 4th grade.
@ The Fourth: I am quite certain they are reserving the penthouse for a person holding a doctorate of architecture. Otherwise you must always remain in the lobby.
:)
I never bothered finding out what the Fibonacci code is (it's math! ugh) but I've always loved the name.
Great composition, Frank! And I like the building's nickname ;)
Awesome. Love the beautiful sky and the style of the building is cool.
Thanks for sharing your SWF.
That is a cool building and I love hearing about all the background information too. That's also a pretty cool looking cloud there next to it!
I knode nothing about this code, whatever it's called, and I'm way too old to figure it out, so I'm just gonna enjoy your photo of a very striking building.
Some people, you see, are clueless. I'm also codeless!
Great photographer's eye, beautiful shot, I'll add it to my collection. Lovely to discover the comments of the readers of your blog all of whom have impeccable taste - as distinct from the philistines who reflect their own realm of taste with the "beer can moniker".
Harry Wolf
PS your picture is a 4x5, Fibonacci's golden section rectangle is approx 3x5 or 5x8. On the other hand if it were cropped as a square with the building occupying the left 1/3 of the frame, the remaining sky would be a golden rectangle.
hwolf@wolfarc.com
@ Harry Wolf - I am thrilled to have the architect of the building like my shot and words (even if I had to include that gross nickname...I will not use it again.) I love the building - inside and out - and think it adds immeasurably to our skyline.
Thank you for your incredible vision, talent and for seeing that it got built. (even if the rest of us can't quite understand the code.) Golden Triangle. Wow. Very cool!!
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