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MarathonMan

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Everything posted by MarathonMan

  1. MarathonMan
    I’m no expert, but it seems like these downtown units are filling up FAST! The Catalyst is a really well-done property. This whole neighborhood has done a stunning turnaround in three short years. I can’t imagine that other developers won’t take notice. On a side note, I can only hope they relocate the nearby jail at Caroline and Capitol sometime soon!
  2. MarathonMan
    When the “unveiling” began, I got a glimpse of some of the tile accents on this building and was excited to see more. But as the metal cladding continued to come down, I must admit I became a little disappointed. IMHO this is not living up to the hype. It’s kind of blah, actually. Reminds me of an outdated Sears department store. As the cornerstone for an innovation hub, I’d rather see something modern, new and edgy. Knock it down and start fresh, in true Houston fashion!
  3. MarathonMan
    The Galleria has never much cared about exterior aesthetics, which I don’t understood. Simple cleaning can’t be THAT expensive...
  4. MarathonMan
    Milwaukee. These were built within two years of each other. Circa 2004-2006. Yes, these are two buildings, separated by mere feet and no offset. And, yes, they look awkward together with plenty of open air all around!
  5. MarathonMan
    Of course there are high rises in similarly close proximity in downtown areas. Land is at a premium, so you have to cram y’all buildings together. I think what mattyt36 is getting at is that two buildings this close to one another in an area with no other high rises nearby will look awkward. I agree.
  6. MarathonMan
    The drawings show only one more residential level to go. Four total over the market and two levels of parking.
  7. MarathonMan
    Perimeter barricades and fencing are up around 3/4 of the block. Hopefully some excavating equipment pops up this week, too.
  8. MarathonMan
    Actually, they started barricading/fencing the block off today. Looks like this one is on its way!
  9. MarathonMan
    This is shaping up nicely, but it’s progressing SOOOOOOOO slowly!
  10. MarathonMan
    The TCH pedestrian skywalk came after Enron’s. Circa 2011. I think it was done as part of the Women’s Pavilion addition.
  11. MarathonMan
    Parking lot is fenced off and windows are coming out of the south side of the building. Renovation looks to be under way!
  12. MarathonMan
    Sharp building.
  13. MarathonMan
    Beautiful tile detailing seeing light after decades of darkness. I’m interested to watch this building transform!
  14. MarathonMan
    Nice lines. Classic. A quality building. But forgettable.
  15. MarathonMan
    If Caydon comes through with The District I and 2, this and the current Caydon project will both be dwarfed!
  16. MarathonMan
    Yes, it’s directly ly south of the GRB. Odd location in my view. No visibility at all. It’s “boxed out” of the Discovery Green/Avenida Houston traffic zone by the GRB to the north and the parking garage to the west. Then, it’s cut off from Eado to the east by US 59. With surface parking to the south, it’s pretty much isolated from everything!
  17. MarathonMan
    It looks like it’s going to be a fountain of some sort.
  18. MarathonMan
    I agree. Underwhelming. But most development in Houston skews safe, unassuming and unrisky.
  19. MarathonMan
    I think the recent work here was to install drainage pipes to prevent standing water in “Lake Midtown”. If I had to guess, that is what the permit in the photo above references. The drains are in and the back hoe and dozer on-site have been idle for the past couple of weeks. Hopefully, the fact that they haven’t removed the equipment hints that they may be about to start using it again. . . to actually build this place. On the other hand, why would they install drainage unless they don’t intend to do anything with the site for a long time? Who knows?
  20. MarathonMan
    It’s certainly his best effort. The texture of the facade and the shape of the tower are intriguing. And the height of the residential portion relative to the podium makes the podium less intrusive.
  21. MarathonMan
    The problem is with the design of the podium. Of course you have to have parking in a building. Catalyst wraps the parking garage with retail and residential units. The parking is all but invisible. Aris has GFR, plus the facade on the parking levels makes them look like occupied floors, which camouflages the parking and visually connects the ground level with the residential levels. Both of these buildings “flow” nicely from the ground up. RD has an unquestionable affinity for chunky, stark, vault-like podiums that make his buildings incohesive.
  22. MarathonMan
    I disagree that those of us writing unflattering reviews of RD’s buildings are internet whiney boys or arm-chair quarterbacks. Architecture is a combination of form and function. There is an element of art in every building and some architects/developers simply do a better job artistically than others. I don’t profess to be an expert on the design, engineering or economic constraints that impact the final product. I understand that profit is the primary driver and impacts the aesthetics of a building. But, as a consumer of the “public art” that is ultimately created once the cranes are down and the landscaping is in, I think I am as qualified as anyone to offer an opinion on a building’s look. And I think that projects like Aris Market Square and Catalyst are much more pleasing than The Cosmopolitan, Marlowe and Astoria with their hulkingly conspicuous parking podiums that offer zero interaction with their surroundings.
  23. MarathonMan
    Yes, the early rendering’s exterior is much more cohesive.
  24. MarathonMan
    This building is, by far, Randall Davis’s best effort to date. However, the exterior seems off to me. The way the glass/stucco portion transitions to all-glass looks weird — like it wasn’t thought out very well. The two sections don’t blend together with any fluidity. What do y’all think?
  25. MarathonMan
    It completely astounds me that this hasn’t happened. This is one of the most prime locations in this city.
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