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Subdude

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  1. Subdude
    Are you saying it is only third rate?
  2. Subdude
    I guess that's fair to say. I'm sure the editors are very well qualified, but notwithstanding, I still think this is a bad call. Is your argument that the Hobby center is actually a great example of this century's architecture, or that we oughtn't disagree with the experts who write these books?
  3. Subdude
    Fat chance I'm afraid. You would think that after the experience with Ike this year there would be a huge program to start burying the lines. You would think, but you'd be wrong. They obviously knew that the ugliness factor would hurt Houston's chances. True story: when the Olympic selection committee reps were visiting Houston, their drivers were instructed not to drive them downtown via Hardy Toll Road, 59 or 45 so they wouldn't be bowled over by the miles of sprawl. They had to detour on the North Belt to 290 (I think), and make the approach from that direction.
  4. Subdude
    Sorry to hear it. I have to say that laying someone off via a phone call on Christmas Eve is about as low as possible. Who was your boss, Snidely Whiplash?
  5. Subdude
    Good recap from the Chronicle.
  6. Subdude
    First of all l must admit I dwell in the higher realms of geekdom and watch old car commercials on youtube. But look at the beginning of this ad for the exciting 1979 Datsun 200SX. Is that Houston ca 1978 in the background when the Datsun is on the roller coaster? Could this have been shot at Astroworld? It looks Houston-ish.
  7. Subdude
    "Bozo St Clair"? Naked boxing girls? Interesting find there. The mind boggles...
  8. Subdude
    You probably hit the nail on the head there. It's got to be easier just to pick out projects by the starchitects, regardless of merit. It bothers me sometimes when big commissions go to big names that go on to produce second rate work (Cf Moneo's Beck Building at MFAH).
  9. Subdude
    I went riding around to check it out once, and there doesn't seem to be evidence of the Milam Street extension to White Oak.
  10. Subdude
    Good points, although I would guess that the frontage roads make both the visual blight and traffic worse. The latter because they have the effect of steering local trips onto freeways. That is why every other city in the country has avoided them. like the idea of $1000 fines for littering. Unless we send a strong message that it won't be tolerated it will continue to be a problem. It's come up before in other topics, but one thing that I really think contributes to fugliness in Houston is the overhead power lines everywhere. IMO nothing does more to give that special cheap third world ambiance. Even my former colleague from Turkey was appalled that a city the size of Houston doesn't bury the lines.
  11. Subdude
    Welcome to Houston!
  12. Subdude
    A blog I read regularly lists the architectural billings index as an economic indicator. It has been running at an all-time low, although to be fair the index has only been computed since 1995. It seems that right now everything possible is being put on hold as people wait to see how bad things get.
  13. Subdude
    I would agree that Houston has large stretches of ugly areas, although it would be impossible to make a meaningful comparison to other cities on that count. A neat visual appearance just has never been a big priority here. Littering has always been a problem. The problem is the "broken windows" theory kicks in. When people see an ugly trashed up environment they are more likely to trash things up themselves. Easy to pick out the problem, but hard to think of how a solution could be implemented. Note a long series of off topic replies and personal remarks was cleaned up.
  14. Subdude
    Posts peeled off of another topic. Perhaps not precisely bogus, but if the editors seriously think that the Hobby Center is one of the greatest buildings of the decade then one would really have to question their judgment. This was the building that one newspaper compared to a small town airport. Maybe they're not saying it is truly great as much as trying to get representative samples of buildings from a bunch of different cities.
  15. Subdude
    It's just a setting. Click on "Options" on the top right, and down the menu there are display modes. Click on standard and life will be good again.
  16. Subdude
    Link
  17. Subdude
    I was only through Detroit airport once but it seemed nice. The terminal was very new. Anyone who has been to London would probably agree that there is a special place in airport hell for both Heathrow and Gatwick. Both are cramped and confusing. Gatwick doesn't have enough restrooms so there are queues even for the men's room. With the exception of Terminal E, which I believe was funded by Continental, IAH has the worst food selection of any major airport I've been to. Bar none.
  18. Subdude
    Probably a bunch of architecture critics who just got sick of looking at the place. Too bad they can't declare it a total loss and build something nicer.
  19. Subdude
    Frankfurt 1 is nice, although it was odd to see people smoking in the shopping area. Terminal 2 just seemed like a big box however. Atlanta Hartsfield is hard for me to peg even after spending countless hours there. It's like a giant machine for transportation. Efficient enough, but it has all the charm and character of a pencil sharpener. It's not pleasant, and it's not exactly unpleasant. It doesn't feel like anything at all, just the experience of waiting. I used to have to go to Charlotte periodically and I remember thinking it was a very fast airport to get in and out of.
  20. Subdude
    Note Titan topics merged.
  21. Subdude
    Great idea actually. A rocket museum would be a perfect use for the Astrodome.
  22. Subdude
    I got to thinking about this yesterday during a three+ hour layover in a nearly empty Schipol airport (Amsterdam). You have to give them credit - that is one great airport. The signage is clear, everything is clean, working and well-laid out. It's such a nice place that it is almost enjoyable to hang around, and that's even before you get to the stores, casino, museum etc. Although I suspect a lot of travelers think it is confusing and has rotten food, I have always kind of liked IAH. The strange layout is the outcome of 40 years worth of assorted additions, and I like seeing how all the additions have been adapted over time. Hobby was nice with the 1940s look and feel, but that will go away once the rebuilding is complete. It will end up nicer, but lacking the charm. One I couldn't stand was O'Hare. You get the feeling they are trying to subtly punish people for going through there.
  23. Subdude
    Fantastic Thai food where they treat the customers like a necessary evil. It's new location is actually behind a strip center so it is a bit hard to find. I suspect the management prefers it that way, but nevertheless the many Telephone Thai loyalists will continue to seek them out. Great stuff.
  24. Subdude
    Great shot, great colors, but it looks strange with no people about!
  25. Subdude
    To me it is kind of a cool New Years gesture. Is this a one-time-only thing, or will they try to make it into a local tradition.
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