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bachanon

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Posts posted by bachanon

  1. the economics of a project determines how many units and how tall it will be; it isn't a random choice the developer makes ("uhhhh, i think we'll go 8 stories"). it's fun to consider what would look great on any particular lot but when it comes down to it, it's business.  how little can the developer spend in exchange for the most return.  aesthetics and urban planning are usually not their biggest concern (if at all).

    when i see a development that disappoints, like the mediocrity that camden produces, i know it's just business.  that said, there are developers who are concerned about aesthetics and urban planning and will forego or delay return on investment in exchange for a better urban fabric.  houston has not been the epicenter for this sort of developers but hopefully this is changing.

     

    • Like 1
  2. Azure-Miami-Perez-Art-Museum-Brings-The-

     

    this concept from herzog & de meuron for miami's art museum has an understated design; an example such as this, when thinking of the post office site, shows how a structure might reference the underside ugliness of the nearby freeways and redefine the area continuing the efforts of the buffalo bayou project.  looking at this pavilion type structure immediately reminds me of the structural pillars holding up the freeways on either side of the post office site.  blowing out the space underneath the post office site and opening it to the other side of the freeways would reduce the claustrophobic feeling of this area and add pedestrian connections to underutilized greenspace (at least on the elder street artists lofts side).  i need to check google earth and the renderings for the proposed projects for this site, i think everything designed stops at the freeways.

    i think there are so many opportunities for something truly amazing here, and not just the outward appearance but more options for pedestrian/bike/transit connectivity, mixed use, public spaces, etc. etc....

    • Like 2
  3. in response to a thread about the police department building on the post office site: "the post office site needs to be treated as the "gateway" (for lack of a better term) to the city of houston.  the last thing we want is a quickly aging police headquarters fronting downtown with 24 hour activity surrounding law enforcement; let them build under the elevated section of 59 by the elysian viaduct or north of u of h on the bayou side.


     


    i want.....yes, i'm stomping my feet like a two year old....i want a monumental structure on the post office site that implies "welcome to oz (not the prison reference, the over the rainbow reference)/space city/the city of possibility/the city where dreams come true/the most diverse up and coming city in the country".  while i'm on my soapbox in dreamland......i want a frank gehry or a morphosis or a renzo piano...i want something that is bold yet restrained; it doesn't turn it's back to the freeway or the bayou; it is beautiful from 360 degrees; it is mixed use, pedestrian friendly and connected to mass transit......


     


    i know i'm not asking much......i just watched the secret life of walter mitty and feel like i need to go jump out of a helicopter and just freakin' go for it!!  sorry...i digress.


     


    NO!  XENOS!!! (channeling toula's father in "my big fat greek wedding"...possibly incorrectly) XENOS to more police structures on the bayou or in desirable locations!"


     


    big, i'm sayin' BIG!  for instance:


     


    580_Image_shard_london_1.jpg


     


    Oriente-Station-by-Santiago-Calatrava-8.


     


    Azure-Future-Projects-2014-05.jpg


     


    Azure-Future-Projects-2014-01.jpg


     


    Azure-Future-Projects-2014-21.jpg


     


    i understand it's easy to google for cool images and tack them onto a thread, but this is an important location; if it isn't a monumental development then it should be something completely public.


    • Like 3
  4. the post office site needs to be treated as the "gateway" (for lack of a better term) to the city of houston.  the last thing we want is a quickly aging police headquarters fronting downtown with 24 hour activity surrounding law enforcement; let them build under the elevated section of 59 by the elysian viaduct or north of u of h on the bayou side.

     

    i want.....yes, i'm stomping my feet like a two year old....i want a monumental structure on the post office site that implies "welcome to oz (not the prison reference, the over the rainbow reference)/space city/the city of possibility/the city where dreams come true/the most diverse up and coming city in the country".  while i'm on my soapbox in dreamland......i want a frank gehry or a morphosis or a renzo piano...i want something that is bold yet restrained; it doesn't turn it's back to the freeway or the bayou; it is beautiful from 360 degrees; it is mixed use, pedestrian friendly and connected to mass transit......

     

    i know i'm not asking much......i just watched the secret life of walter mitty and feel like i need to go jump out of a helicopter and just freakin' go for it!!  sorry...i digress.

     

    NO!  XENOS!!! (channeling toula's father in "my big fat greek wedding"...possibly incorrectly) XENOS to more police structures on the bayou or in desirable locations!

    • Like 2
  5. after looking at buffalo bayou on google earth, on the north side headed east: the jails, clayton homes, are going to be difficult things to overcome.  at first glance, there appears to be little land for private development and what might be there will be near undesirable properties (on the north side going east specifically).  not feeling too positive about buffalo bayou past allen's landing......

    • Like 2
  6. looking at this latest picture (thanks triton), i realize that, in all of my longing for the next discovery green, i've overlooked the impact the buffalo bayou project could have on development facing the bayou from shepherd to downtown and further east.  i mean, i've known all along that this was ongoing and have ventured out to see the progress........i haven't yet built expectation on the possible developments that will follow; buildings around buffalo bayou extending "downtown" along the winding linear park that is buffalo bayou (google earth time).

     

    are there additional pedestrian bridges going in, between memorial & allen parkway? guess i should check the master plan.....

    • Like 2
  7. Here's some more... http://www.areavibes.com/the+woodlands-tx/demographics/

     

    Whiter than Wonder Bread.

     

    you wouldn't think that hanging out around town center.  around waterway square, i hear japanese and spanish on the elevator every week.  at the mall and market street, i hear different languages everywhere; maybe it's tourists or business travelers.  the woodlands, houston in general, is very international.  i think it's limiting to break it down to skin color.

  8. houston is slowly but surely embracing and utilizing its bayou systems.  this is but one more opportunity to point public and pedestrian focus toward, rather than away from, the bayous. if we were an older european city our bayous might have controlled water levels (house boat anyone?) with wide pedestrian waterfront boulevards winding through every inner loop neighborhood.  yes, on a small scale, the sunset coffee building project may seem out of the way or singular; on the contrary, it is a key historic location, it adds another focal point on the bayou, and it continues the success of the buffalo bayou project.

     

    plus, if memory serves, it is another lake/flato project for houston; a firm who's work i covet for our town.

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  9. not to derail the thread, but......observe the beautiful contrast between the cement patios and the blue colored glass or protective covers; now, imagine how wonderful and sleek the exxonmobil building downtown would look with a sensitive remodel.  aqua glass gleaming between the bright white (clean) brise soleil.  i'm just sayin'.......

     

    i absolutely love this building.  i hope it delivers for the residents and that the new building across the street is equally interesting.

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  10. I didn't want to post about this but then I saw KHOU & KPRC had already picked up on it.

    So, about 924,000g of Oil spilled into the ship channel.

    Small spills happen every once in a while and most are so small they never get reported.

    I think it will be a quick pick up and should take about 24-48 hours.

     

    the fact that i hate to consider, is that it could be worse, much worse.  it is a little sad that we are relieved that it's only 924,000 gallons.

    • Like 1
  11. .............are we nearing the point where the haifing hazing ritual requires guerilla photos from unlikely or illegal spots?  i hear bill balleza's voice on the news saying: "local social media website under investigation for inciting mass trespassing violations and ignoring posted "keep out" signs" or  "extremist architecture and development fan site encourages loyal followers to risk safety and break trespassing laws, full story at ten o'clock"

     

    maybe editor would let us make a new requirement for registration: we won't let you post comments until you post pictures that impress us..........

    • Like 3
  12. ...........not to hijack the thread, but considering "connecting urban centers" in houston: while looking at google earth tonight, i noticed an angle between uptown and greenway plaza that has several towers under construction or planned.  it looks like there is more potential for the uptown skyline to connect with greenway plaza than downtown and tmc.  if you set google earth on the perspective thingy.....yes, i said it........ and view uptown and greeway plaza while considering the residential and office towers going up, you can begin to imagine how the two areas can connect.  

    • Like 1
  13. 1. As far as the open pieces of land goes as long as there are a cluster of buildings close too both sides of Rice U. and Herman park when you are coming towards downtown visually it'll look connected I'm not say all the buildings will be 10 ft away from each other I'm saying the buildings will be close enough to each other to give some form of connection visually which I'm happy with....also look at Manhattan there's a ton of buildings surrounding Central Park but yet that doesn't screw up their skyline...they just built around it....and everything still looks connected..

     

    2.You right about TMC being planned and having master planning...but whose to say that can't happen again in Midtown?

     

    remember that the medical center was property owned by one person (william marsh rice?  i should know this. perhaps someone can confirm) or organization and donated or set aside for the purpose of having research hospitals.  it was one piece of land.  to "master plan" midtown would require all of the owners of smaller properties to sell to one owner or developer.  barring a major depression where land is sold for pennies on the dollar, a master-planned midtown (even a portion of it) is highly unlikely.  now, could demand or incentives create a greater possibility of taller buildings in midtown, absolutely.

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