brijonmang Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 Providing a link to the development list of buildings thread. Given this list, it seems like a strange time for this kind of comment. http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/28590-development-list-for-buildings-in-houston-september-2013/ ....but we aren't getting the Shanghai tower Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jackwood Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 Ok, so now I am being silly Yes, you are. Here is a short list of some of my favorite new projects being proposed in the Houston area. Thanks to Urbanizer for making it so easy to gather these renderings up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arndthwrld82 Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 WOW! Putting them all together like that really brings home how many great projects are happening right now! It's a great time to be a Houston architecture and development fanboy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brijonmang Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 It's a great time to be a Houston architecture and development fanboy? Well I thought you were excited about all of those projects but after that, I just don't know what to think...you seem to have a very existential way of analyzing things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bachanon Posted September 7, 2013 Share Posted September 7, 2013 it seems that many times people are looking for a wow factor, they really mean a gehry or a calatrava, something that is over the top. houston wows with subtleties and practical beauty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livincinco Posted September 7, 2013 Share Posted September 7, 2013 One of the things that I've always appreciated about Houston is the feeling that this is a city that is all about results. We aren't trying to impress anyone, we're just doing what we think is best. That extends to architecture as well. I don't want Houston to be a copy of New York, LA, Chicago, or some other city. Be Houston. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arndthwrld82 Posted September 7, 2013 Share Posted September 7, 2013 Well I thought you were excited about all of those projects but after that, I just don't know what to think...you seem to have a very existential way of analyzing things. The lamentable unintentional question mark belies my avarice for "urban ontogenesis", if you will. “I took a test in Existentialism. I left all the answers blank and got 100.”― Woody Allen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus Allen Posted September 9, 2013 Author Share Posted September 9, 2013 Forgive me. Just recently returned to Houston. I think my late night comment was probably motivated by past hopes dashed by mediocre, IMO, developments in the last few years here in town. You certainly do make the case that I am a bit off the mark with the compilation of new projects for Houston. Thanks for that. And yes, I am a huge fan of Gehry and Calatrava, as well as Meir, so I would love to see an iconic tower here soon. I KNOW we have a few icons in our great city, I am just being greedy. And yes, I do want HTown to Not be a clone of metropolises. Please, don't misunderstand me, IF these projects come to pass, I will say my Mia culpas, but which development is "cutting edge"? and not already done at least once in another city; rather than a headliner stating " Here is a first in architecture in Houston". you must admit, with the exception of LA maybe, DT could use something other than flat roofs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus Allen Posted September 9, 2013 Author Share Posted September 9, 2013 I guess I am just getting nostalgic the older I become. I just wish a cutting edge architect like Johnson would look our way and say, "hey, you know what? Let me make Houston my canvas for two or three really neat ideas I have.". That's sort of my dream. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jackwood Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus Allen Posted September 10, 2013 Author Share Posted September 10, 2013 Yes. If that comes to pass, I believe my own post is moot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 Keep dreaming. That thing will never get built. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Vik Posted October 4, 2013 Share Posted October 4, 2013 One of the things that I've always appreciated about Houston is the feeling that this is a city that is all about results. We aren't trying to impress anyone, we're just doing what we think is best. That extends to architecture as well. I don't want Houston to be a copy of New York, LA, Chicago, or some other city. Be Houston. I guess you like strip malls, and lots of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
august948 Posted October 4, 2013 Share Posted October 4, 2013 I guess you like strip malls, and lots of them. Old, rundown, and cheap strip malls along with a general lack of red tape is why we have such a thriving and diverse small business scene here. That's one reason why we have such a diverse and great mix of restaurants and shops that feature stuff from all over the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livincinco Posted October 4, 2013 Share Posted October 4, 2013 Old, rundown, and cheap strip malls along with a general lack of red tape is why we have such a thriving and diverse small business scene here. That's one reason why we have such a diverse and great mix of restaurants and shops that feature stuff from all over the world. Agreed. Some of the best restaurants in the city are in rundown, cheap strip malls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted October 4, 2013 Share Posted October 4, 2013 Old, rundown, and cheap strip malls along with a general lack of red tape is why we have such a thriving and diverse small business scene here. That's one reason why we have such a diverse and great mix of restaurants and shops that feature stuff from all over the world. That's one reason I've always enjoyed Houston wherever I go. It's that's there's SO MUCH to see, even in the more run neighborhoods. Even when there's garden apartment complexes no more than two stories high and fast food restaurants, it just feels more denser and urban compared to a similar scene in College Station. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Vik Posted October 4, 2013 Share Posted October 4, 2013 Agreed. Some of the best restaurants in the city are in rundown, cheap strip malls. I will agree on that.Old, rundown, and cheap strip malls along with a general lack of red tape is why we have such a thriving and diverse small business scene here. That's one reason why we have such a diverse and great mix of restaurants and shops that feature stuff from all over the world. Agreed, but they are an eyesore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livincinco Posted October 4, 2013 Share Posted October 4, 2013 Agreed, but they are an eyesore. But, there's an economic cycle at work here too. Cheap buildings provide cheap rent, which allows people to go into business that never would be able to do so otherwise. Look at how many of the top chefs in Houston credit little restaurants in cheap strip malls in Long Point or Bellaire for inspiration. Houston's getting all kind of national acclaim for it's restaurant scene and it's not a stretch to say that a lot of it is due to all that low rent in those eyesores. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
infinite_jim Posted October 4, 2013 Share Posted October 4, 2013 Ok, so I will take whatever you all dish my way. But as we ALL look at developments across the globe, why is it that Houston, although exciting in it's production, is lacking in it's form? What I mean is that, yes, we are bustling, and I applaud that, but the high rises are a bit redundant and boring. Why? Slopes? Angles? Cylinders? Multiple towers connected by some sort of futuristic looking tubes. Ok, so now I am being silly, but really, come on, why not more variety? I had to move back from LA...sigh, BORING, architecturally, now I am back to my roots, and dammit, where is the WOW in Houston Architecture like back in the day? Ok. You're thoughts?Cheap dirt. When the cost goes up it becomes more efficient in terms of appeal/programming/sustainability/etc to hire an architect even if they get 7%. When the cost is lower it's cheaper and easier to value engineer the project. I worked on quite a few tilt up strip malls and fast food restaurants and we usually only got hired b/c of corporate franchise requirements for modifications to the prototypes. I spent more time doing HVAC and civil site engineering work then actual design work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
august948 Posted October 4, 2013 Share Posted October 4, 2013 Agreed, but they are an eyesore. Just move to a master planned community and you don't have to worry about that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Vik Posted October 4, 2013 Share Posted October 4, 2013 Just move to a master planned community and you don't have to worry about that. No thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livincinco Posted October 4, 2013 Share Posted October 4, 2013 Just move to a master planned community and you don't have to worry about that. There do seem to be a lot of people around here that hate master planned communities, but essentially want their communities to be master planned. The main difference seems to be that they want identical apartment complexes with ground floor retail instead of single family homes with town centers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Vik Posted October 4, 2013 Share Posted October 4, 2013 There do seem to be a lot of people around here that hate master planned communities, but essentially want their communities to be master planned. The main difference seems to be that they want identical apartment complexes with ground floor retail instead of single family homes with town centers. There are a lot of people that hate zoning and claim to hate restrictions but then are silent when it comes to the subject of absurd parking requirements for various types of businesses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
august948 Posted October 4, 2013 Share Posted October 4, 2013 There are a lot of people that hate zoning and claim to hate restrictions but then are silent when it comes to the subject of absurd parking requirements for various types of businesses. Hasn't the city revised parking requirements over the last year or two to make it easier for businesses located in tight spots? So we have no zoning and better parking requlations than before. What's to hate about that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkultra25 Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 But, there's an economic cycle at work here too. Cheap buildings provide cheap rent, which allows people to go into business that never would be able to do so otherwise. Look at how many of the top chefs in Houston credit little restaurants in cheap strip malls in Long Point or Bellaire for inspiration. Houston's getting all kind of national acclaim for it's restaurant scene and it's not a stretch to say that a lot of it is due to all that low rent in those eyesores. One yuppie's eyesore is another hipster's authenticity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus Allen Posted October 6, 2013 Author Share Posted October 6, 2013 ....but we aren't getting the Shanghai tower how funny you said that. Because I thought that tower in a 60 to 80 storey version would work well in the block between One Shell Plaza and Wells Fargo Tower. And in fact have drawn either it or NYs BOA tower in the HTown version of my skylines. Anyway, he's, I agree, that sort of morphic tower is what is needed in Houston's skylines....yes....skylines...I will take it in one of our many ...LOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus Allen Posted October 6, 2013 Author Share Posted October 6, 2013 Cheap dirt. When the cost goes up it becomes more efficient in terms of appeal/programming/sustainability/etc to hire an architect even if they get 7%. When the cost is lower it's cheaper and easier to value engineer the project. I worked on quite a few tilt up strip malls and fast food restaurants and we usually only got hired b/c of corporate franchise requirements for modifications to the prototypes. I spent more time doing HVAC and civil site engineering work then actual design work. oh, sorry about that. How do you stay in the game then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arche_757 Posted October 21, 2013 Share Posted October 21, 2013 I don't think Houston lacks quality projects, far from it. I think we lack the attention from the media telling us that "____ is a great building" like we see for a lot of different projects around the country. Houston gets little love from the national media, and our perception among most everyone who hasn't been here is quite negative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdog08 Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 Pardon my ignorance, but is another boom, perhaps mini-boom coming pretty soon? With all these expanding energy companies will that lead to another boom once all these new offices start to fill up with employees? Or will Houston just keep on keeping on? Assuming O&G prices stay near current levels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bachanon Posted December 1, 2013 Share Posted December 1, 2013 i think we are experiencing a boom right now. i think a better question is, "has it peaked?" or "when will it peak?". these things do not usually last too many months or years. that said, what forces are driving the boom now and are, or how long, are they sustainable? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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