8. Marina City
No, these aren't just two large ‘corn cobs’ (although, that is this buildings nickname). Marina City was designed by architect Bertrand Goldberg with the idea of creating a city within a city and aimed to bring Chicagoans from the suburbs back to the living downtown. A new way of living, the design and development of Marina City was considered innovative and ahead of its time. It was completed in 1967, and with its two residential towers it also included office space, parking, theatre, shops, bowling alley, swimming pool and even a private marina with its location prime along the Chicago River. Every residential space is uniquely designed in that there are no right angles in any of the units, and this is just one of the features that has made Marina City an architectural gem in Chicago.