[WestGrayGuy]

Okay, I am by no means an architectural critic. But, I do know an ugly building when I see one. Has anyone else seen the new Austin city hall in person?

Here is the architectural rendering:



Am I crazy for thinking it is ugly? I like Houston's city halll the best of the large cities in the state.

Thoughts, opinions?

[CincoRanch-HoustonResident]

Not too bad.

[largeTEXAS]

I like it.

[SpaceCity]

I think its kind of cool looking.

But its not very "stately." It looks more like a piece of 70's architecture on a college campus.

[MidtownCoog]

Very 70s.

Looks like the UC at UH.

[Dallasite]

Does it allow for expansion? I don't dislike it but would rather see something better for our capital city.

[Talbot]

It does look very 70's, and I dont like the brown in the building.

[WestGrayGuy]

Trust me it looks worse in person (my opinion). It is right on the river and does not seem to fit in with the surrounding buildings.

[Subdude]

It seems it would be a lot more attractive if they rethought the color scheme. Is that supposed to be a waterfall running down the front? The design might be OK for any number of purposes (like a college lecture hall), but it really doesn't seem to have the monumentality that would be expected in a city hall. See dbigtex's comments about the Harris County Courthouse for the way municipal buildings used to be signs of civic pride. Here's a good example.

[texasPaul]

I think its a very interesting and a very "Austin" looking building. I like the incorporating of the trees into the design as well as the wood facing.

My first thought upon seeing it was that it was some sort of campus type development like for a major office or school.

At least is not as awful as the one we have in Dallas. It scale made it look so out of place and it does not mesh well with the rest of downtown.

[UrbanLandscape]

texasPaul, on Wednesday, September 22nd, 2004 @ 10:16am, said:

I think its a very interesting and a very "Austin" looking building.<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Therein lies the problem. In fact, I'm not even sure that it's very Austin at all. It lloks like something that gets built and within a few years, everyone wishes they had built something more architectually conservative.

texasPaul, on Wednesday, September 22nd, 2004 @ 10:16am, said:

At least is not as awful as the one we have in Dallas.  It scale made it look so out of place and it does not mesh well with the rest of downtown.<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You learn to like it. I've always thought that it would look better as a taller building. Like with the matte work done in "Robocop" to make it the OCP tower.

[2112]

It looks like something Frank Loyd Wright would do. What's the name of that house he built right over a waterfall? Falling Water? Or something like that? It doesnt have the protruding elements of that house, but I guess its just the way it sprouts out horizontally in all directions, and has these really, thick, concrete looking "bases", and the dark orange wood looking "thingies". Hey, I better shut up, I keep forgetting I am among a bunch of REAL architects around here! hehehehe.

I'll stop talking outa my ass now.

[UrbanLandscape]

2112, on Wednesday, September 22nd, 2004 @ 12:29pm, said:

It looks like something Frank Loyd Wright would do.  What's the name of that house he built right over a waterfall? Falling Water?  Or something like that?  It doesnt have the protruding elements of that house, but I guess its just the way it sprouts out horizontally in all directions, and has these really, thick, concrete looking "bases", and the dark orange wood looking "thingies".  Hey, I better shut up, I keep forgetting I am among a bunch of REAL architects around here!  hehehehe.

I'll stop talking outa my ass now.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah, I agree, and I'm far from being a professional in anything.

Frank Lloyd Wright actually had talent and skill.

[2112]

UrbanLandscape, on Wednesday, September 22nd, 2004 @ 12:32pm, said:

Yeah, I agree, and I'm far from being a professional in anything.

Frank Lloyd Wright actually had talent and skill.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What are you majoring over at Sam Houston State?

[UrbanLandscape]

2112, on Wednesday, September 22nd, 2004 @ 4:17pm, said:

What are you majoring over at Sam Houston State?
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Radio-television.

[MidtownCoog]

Do you get to take the Dan Rather Investigative Reporting class?

I hear that one is excellent. And the professor does not even check your references. An easy A, for sure.

[dbigtex56]

Let's stay on topic, please.

[UrbanLandscape]

dbigtex56, on Wednesday, September 22nd, 2004 @ 8:38pm, said:

Let's stay on topic, please.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No no! That was good!

[dbigtex56]

UrbanLandscape, on Wednesday, September 22nd, 2004 @ 11:46pm, said:

No no!  That was good!
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What part of 'off-topic' don't you understand?

If this is a topic of interest for you, start a thread in the "Way Off Topic" section.

[H-Town Man]

I agree with the comment that it is "Austin-looking." If you drive along the river there, they have a lot of buildings that are similar to this, including their convention center, and in my opinion, it all looks very good. Austin has found its architectural style. The more buildings they build in it, the better each one of them will look.

[groovehouse]

I saw this building this past weekend and think it's very "Austin" as posted previously. I think the copper around the building will be very unique once it starts to turn green. I think it looks very intriguing from street level...

[UrbaNerd]

Very cool, but it isnt very modern. It is too 70's ish.

[Montrose1100]

70s ish? That doesn't even look like a city hall. Its nothing compared to the state capital building!! bad move Austin... excuse my french but it looks like S*.

[UrbanLandscape]

Montrose1100, on Monday, September 27th, 2004 @ 5:20pm, said:

70s ish? That doesn't even look like a city hall. Its nothing compared to the state capital building!! bad move Austin... excuse my french but it looks like S*.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm glad someone finally said it.

[Montrose1100]

UrbanLandscape, on Monday, September 27th, 2004 @ 8:27pm, said:

I'm glad someone finally said it.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No, seriously, this is so, STUPID! Why waste a perfectly good opertunity to set an example of beautiful architecture (a city hall) and waste it with fake wood paneling... but WTF^^ mates... Our state ca[ital's city hall should be a good example, but going with this. God, in 20 years, we'll still be saying the same thing. WHAT WHERE THEY THINKING?!

[houstonsemipro]

It looks Stupid. Whoever thought of that need to be shot.

[Montrose1100]

houstonsemipro, on Monday, October 4th, 2004 @ 5:02pm, said:

It looks Stupid. Whoever thought of that need to be shot.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Lets hope it was Micheal Moore...

[kirbyaustex]

Hi, I'm new. Actually, I've been observing for about three years now. I come here to find out what is happening in Houston. In doing that, I end up reading the entire thread that I have choosen. Mostly, I laugh...but other times...well. I now have say something. I'm know y'all will get used to me very quickly.

Wood paneling? Where do you see that?

Micheal Moore? Politics has nothing to do with this building's design, a city hall or not.

I've watch this building go from a 40' deep hole in the earth to being almost finished today. It is a beautiful building. It was designed by a New Mexico architect, yet it is very "Austin". It's also has heavy hill country-style influence. My only problem with it is that it is not bigger. It fits perfectly with its surrounding building, because it bring elements (limestone and height) that those buildings have. Then it contrasts with the copper and anti-box shape to set itself apart. "I belong here, but I'm different." The view of it as you drive north over the 1st Street bridge is wonderful. You haven't even seen the back of the building. There is a balcony that extends over 2nd Street. The building is sculpture. It's not a box. There is a sunken plaza in front with a stage. The stairs up the front of the building doulbe as a small ampitheater. Very appropirate for Austin. This is what I believe someone mistook for a waterfall in an earlier post. The only wood will be slates above the seating to ward off the sun. Don't judge the building by a model. You should come see the actual building before you deem it "stupid" or "70's-ish".

[MidtownCoog]

It's is 70ish. What's wrong with that descritptoin? Austin, or at least the pre.com Austin, was very 70ish, even in the 80s and 90s.

A lot of the elements you describe remind of the University Center at UH. VERY similar.

I think Houston has the best city hall of all the major cities in Texas:

[UrbanLandscape]

I like how the big picture is backwards. Look closely at the area just above the doors.

[dbigtex56]

re: Houston City Hall.

I still maintain that Mrs. Lanier did us no favor with her rennovation of City Hall Plaza, especially the reflecting pool. Why the turquoise liner? It's not a kiddie pool!

Black is the preferred color, as it creates a more reflective surface. Local examples would be the reflecting pools at Hermann Park and Rothko Chapel.

[pineda]

Not to impune the fine Mrs. Bob Lanier, but have you ever seen the interior of her townhouse where she and Bob moved to several years ago? Her style and taste seemed to be woefully lacking in all elements and aspects of good design. I will never understand why "first ladies" are allowed to redecorate on a whim any public building they choose. The only opinion they should be allowed to enter in any discussion of this type should be what design firm to hire and rely on their recommendations, rather than considering city coffers their carte-blanche piggy bank. The only one who was ever any good at it was Jackie Kennedy, and you, Mrs. Elyse Lanier are no Jackie Kennedy.

[bachanon]

the opening post on this thread calls the "picture of a model" of the austin city hall a rendering. a rendering is a drawing or more specifically a cad drawing. correct me if i'm wrong.

the austin city hall appears to be an attempt at "organic" architecture but the model looks like a 1960s or 1970s era precast concrete behemoth. blech! is this already built?

i might feel differently if i experienced it in person. architecture takes on a completely new dimension in human scale.

[Montrose1100]

kirbyaustex, on Tuesday, October 5th, 2004 @ 5:14pm, said:

Hi, I'm new.  Actually, I've been observing for about three years now.  I come here to find out what is happening in Houston.  In doing that, I end up reading the entire thread that I have choosen.  Mostly, I laugh...but other times...well.  I now have say something.  I'm know y'all will get used to me very quickly.

Wood paneling?  Where do you see that? 

Micheal Moore?  Politics has nothing to do with this building's design, a city hall or not.

I've watch this building go from a 40' deep hole in the earth to being almost finished today.  It is a beautiful building.  It was designed by a New Mexico architect, yet it is very "Austin".  It's also has heavy hill country-style influence.  My only problem with it is that it is not bigger.  It fits perfectly with its surrounding building, because it bring elements (limestone and height) that those buildings have.  Then it contrasts with the copper and anti-box shape to set itself apart.  "I belong here, but I'm different."  The view of it as you drive north over the 1st Street bridge is wonderful.  You haven't even seen the back of the building.  There is a balcony that extends over 2nd Street.  The building is sculpture.  It's not a box.  There is a sunken plaza in front with a stage.  The stairs up the front of the building doulbe as a small ampitheater.  Very appropirate for Austin.  This is what I believe someone  mistook for a waterfall in an earlier post.  The only wood will be slates above the seating to ward off the sun.  Don't judge the building by a model.  You should come see the actual building before you deem it "stupid" or "70's-ish".
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Obvisouly you need to read a bit more...

This is the worst project I have ever seen. Other then the Dallas Perfoming Arts center, this is the ugliest thing I have ever seen. Nothing about it is "Austin". Its cheap looking, and looks slapped together. I have not seen the building in person, but I have seen pictures, so I am not judging it on the model. Its an ugly building, thats my opion, its just a horrible, ugly building. Austin could have done alot better, it looks like a cheesy condo in 1964 in the hills of Los Angeles. Bad move on Austin's Part.

[kirbyaustex]

I love great art and great architecture, so I'm not going to argue for the building. It can do that for itself...in time, I know it will be vindicated. That being said. This building is exactly "Austin". It stands out, it doesn't conform, it's talked about, it's looked (or gawked) at. A more traditional building would have been a bit more stately, but would have had one post in a thread and nothing more. In the end, boring. I've looked at many buildings. Most for a moment or two, and then moved on. Never to really think of it again, because it couldn't hold my attention. But this one, this one gives me pause. This one holds my attention. This one I look at from all angles. This one I remember. This building is a conversion piece. Remember that not all architecture/art is well received at first. One only has to look at the Eiffel Tower to realize that. I appreciate this building today. In the future, so will everyone else.

[kirbyaustex]

And on reading, I'm very well read. But in the end I think for myself. I don't get marching orders from on high, and blindly follow.

[dbigtex56]

Welcome to to forum, kirbyaustex.

Thanks for sharing your point of view about Austin's new City Hall. Your comments about its suitability to that particular city make sense to me. From that perspective, it took courage to deviate from what is currently fashionable in some architectural circles.

I also agree that one cannot judge a building based on a rather blurry photograph of an architectural model. The materials used and the context in which it's set cannot be fully understood unless the building is viewed in 'real life'.

Do I like this building? Don't know; haven't seen it yet.

[DaTrain]

I don't even like Austin's New city hall. Austin could have done better than that old old school look. It looks like what the average civic centers out in the suburbs would be when built in the 1970s. Why do they have to move out of the Old City Hall for this crappy style? What is thought of as unique to some is really nothing at all. Even has a water fountain little kids wouldn't even be allowed to play in. Not like the Water Garden in Fort Worth etiher.

[dbigtex56]

DaTrain, on Saturday, October 16th, 2004 @ 7:00pm, said:

Even has a water fountain little kids wouldn't even be allowed to play in.  Not like the Water Garden in Fort Worth etiher.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Didn't some little kid get sucked into the Ft Worth Water Garden and drown a few months ago?

[westguy]

Oh damn, I thought that was a swimming pool in front of Houston City Hall.

[dbigtex56]

westguy, on Saturday, October 16th, 2004 @ 11:04pm, said:

Oh damn, I thought that was a swimming pool in front of Houston City Hall.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

hehe!

Apparently, so did Elyse Lanier - that Cee-Ment Pond turquoise lining was installed under her guidance.

Maybe they should run with the theme, and hire some Esther Williams look-alikes to perform synchronized swimming routines. Mmmm....Classy!

[GovernorAggie]

I saw Austin's city Hall this weekend and thought it was the absolute weirdest looking thing I've ever seen. I guess it fits with "Keep Austin Weird" mantra. It's architecture matched the CSC building on both sides. And that beak-like point over 2nd street is also very weird. I wonder how long it will be before that thing is maligned by some too-tall truck.

[ssullivan]

dbigtex56, on Sunday, October 17th, 2004 @ 8:33am, said:

hehe!

Apparently, so did Elyse Lanier - that Cee-Ment Pond turquoise lining was installed under her guidance.

Maybe they should run with the theme, and hire some Esther Williams look-alikes to perform synchronized swimming routines. Mmmm....Classy! 
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Haha!

Seriously, the turquoise has got to go. Last week the reflection pond was drained on several occassions when I was downtown at the library. I was somewhat tempted to grab some friends and a lot of black paint and take care of it myself late at night before the water is put back in. Anyone want to help?

[SpaceCity]

I'm not a big fan of Houston's city hall either. Waco has one that is the same style, and looks like a miniature Houston city hall @ four stories.

I do like Dallas' old city hall


The new Dallas city hall, although done by IM Pei, looks a little too much like an alien space ship for me.

[dbigtex56]

SpaceCity, on Monday, October 25th, 2004 @ 9:44am, said:

The new Dallas city hall, although done by IM Pei, looks a little too much like an alien space ship for me.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Commence anal probe.

[SpaceCity]

Anal probe? There must be a lot of aliens on Montrose.

[largeTEXAS]

Images from the website, http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/cityhall/

[Subdude]

Thanks for posting the pictures. To me it looks even worse in the detailed renderings, although of course you can't really go by drawings. It's like they are trying to capture the spirit of bureaucracy by modeling it on some generic community college. The interior just seems sterile and forbidding, but that may be intentional for a city hall.

[firstngoal]

While this project doesn't seem very well received on this website, I thought the concept - and the public input process - was interesting.... and again, very Austin. I give them a lot of credit for that. See below....

The project will be dominated by landscape and incorporate limestone, bronze, glass, water and shade. Terraces spill out of the building into the plaza in a way that is analogous to geologic forces in the Hill Country that surround Austin and produce the limestone overhangs known as balcones. These terraces will be shaded and habitable, prime locations for viewing the activities on the plaza below and Town Lake beyond.

The main plaza winds its way around the limestone peninsulas of the terraced building. Water originates in the lobby of the building and runs through a group of monumental limestone boulders in the plaza to symbolically return to Town Lake. The Plaza will have multiple seating and gathering areas of different scales to support picnics, outdoor films, and musical performances. The seating is protected from the sun by a shade structure that will generate energy through the use of photovoltaics. Amphitheater seating comes down from the main public plaza terrace and can be used informally or to view performances in the plaza.

On May 17, 2001, City Council unanimously endorsed the new schematic design presented by the design team on May 3.

When Council approved the concept design in February, they requested that the Design Team consider the community's comments as the project moved into the schematic design phase. The Council also requested that design materials be displayed in a "storefront" as a convenient way for the community to view the design and leave comments for the design team.

On March 7, the New City Hall Design Review Center opened at 101 W. 5th Street. Since its opening until May 16 when it was closed, over 300 visitors viewed the design, leaving 43 comment cards for the design team to review. During this same time new City Hall web page was viewed over 14,500 times, and between January and May, a total of 280 comments were received, reviewed and responded to by the design team.

Incorporating comments from the Council, the Design and Downtown Commissions and the community resulted in the following changes to the earlier concept design:

National standards for sustainability will be achieved: A Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Rating from the U.S. Green Building Council is proposed.
Utilization of upgraded, more durable exterior and interior materials.
Installation of more durable building and weatherproofing systems.
A more informal, geometric design.
Addition of a four-story atrium to provide a large public gathering space in the lobby.
Addition of more windows, especially in the Council Chambers to allow more natural light, outdoor views and viewing into the Chambers from the plaza.
Redesigned the flat roof to be a multi-faceted, bronze finish roof.
Addition of more shade through more trees, planting mature trees, covered porches, and shading devices on the building.
More seating will be available in the plaza.
Landscaping buffers will be used in the plaza to mitigate noise from surrounding streets.
Special treatments will be used at intersection crossings to calm traffic.

[UrbanLandscape]

This really looks worse and worse. I mean, maybe it's just in the case of Dallasites, but the city hall there tends to grow on you. At least it looks like a somewhat responsiblie structure. Austin is going to regret this travesty of a building within twenty years.