It's a tall order but Liam and Natasha get in on the act
Property developer Garrett Kelleher shows a model of the 2,000ft skyscraper The Chicago Spire to Liam Neeson and Natasha Richardson at yesterday's launch
Thursday January 24 2008
What, you might well enquire, have Hollywood movie stars Liam Neeson and Natasha Richardson got to do with the launch of the world's tallest residential building?
Stunning in a brown-lacy mini and thigh-high brown suede boots and with the smooth unlined skin of a woman half her age, the 44-year-old actress caused a flurry of excitement amongst photographers yesterday as she stalked into the marquee in Fitzwilliam Square in Dublin, erected for the launch of the Chicago Spire project.
All bouncing blonde curls, she graciously accepted the gushing compliments over her appearance, generously revealing that her outfit was by the American designer Michael Kors as her husband jokingly demanded: "What am I, a piece of s**t?"
Ireland's tallest actor looked good too -- though we weren't sure if blond was exactly his colour. Perhaps he had dyed his hair for his new role in 'The Other Man' alongside Juliette Binoche.
An unseemly amount of time seemed to pass as the couple obliged photographers by posing alongside a large model of the 2,000-foot tall structure, currently being built on the shores of Lake Michigan in central Chicago and which will be the tallest residential building in the world, as well as the tallest structure in North America or Europe.
It will house almost 1,200 "exclusive residences", of which no two will be alike, over 150 storeys. Prices will range from €500,000 to €28m for the largest two-floor penthouse.
The structure has already sparked the jealous ire of Donald Trump, furious that the Spire has taken publicity away from his own development, the Chicago Tower, and who has sourly described Kelleher's building as looking like a "large, slightly deformed penis".
The glamorous couple's thespian background came in handy as, seemingly engrossed in the model, they enthusiastically discussed the project with Irish developer Garrett Kelleher and architect Santiago Calatrava as, behind them, workers continued preparations for the 600-head official launch hosted by the celebrity couple that evening.
"More happiness, please," shouted a photographer keen for an upbeat look in his shots. No problem. She even pretended not to notice that when the photographers said it would be "nice to get a long shot", -- what they really wanted was a shot of her legs in those boots. But no, as it turns out, the couple do not exactly have a direct interest, or indeed any interest at all, in the development they were doing such a good job of promoting.
Nor do they even intend to buy one of the apartments in the intriguingly candycane-like tower.
"We live in New York," proffered Natasha hastily, when reporters inquired.
The actress then explained how the couple had become involved with the project -- both are good friends with the owner of their gym, who introduced them to Garrett Kelleher and he brought them on board.
Prospective buyers can visit the Chicago Spire Exhibition in Fitzwilliam Square Gardens until January 27.
- Nicola Anderson
