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marc

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Everything posted by marc

  1. marc
    How is Midtown for shopping? And, i know UT has many things........expensive as they are.........BUT, in route i could shop off of Richmond and Westeimer, right? m.
  2. marc
    DO IT! When i HAD to move to LA a few years back, i kept my car and was a bit disgruntled with my Valley options. BUT in the last couple of years, North Hollywood, or NOHO (keep the dirty comments to a minimum please > ) has become a pedestrian's Mecca. I sold my car in January thanks to the VERY popular and efficient Red and Orange Lines. There are condo highrises, upscale apts. and townhomes, pedestrian friendly Commons areas and quaint cafes opening up all around me for about a 1 mile radius. It is awesome! When i DO move back to my beloved Houston, i have already decided that DT is my next home. Love what's going on there! I know DiscoGreen got some ridicule when it was first announced, BUT, with all the developers falling over themselves to build in that area, i think we are going to witness something awesome and inviting in that area in the next few years. m.
  3. marc
    Very Calatrava-isk looking. Which, of course, i like. I don't know, i think our convention center harkens back to a time that reminds me of the Lloyd's of London building or the Centre Pompidou etc. Sort of Blade-Runner looking. I wonder how much the remodeling cost would be if its facade got a current makeover? AND, is there really a market for it? I mean, would more people flock to the Convention Center if it had a cool facade? What do you all think? m.
  4. marc
    Driving around a park and walking/strolling around a park ARE two different things. Depending on landscaping, a relatively small space can seem larger because of stepbacks and such. When driving around it, one goes from a point A to point B perspective, whereas, winding pathways, trees blocking expansive views of the borders and certain structures can create an illusion that the park is larger than it really is. True it isn't Central Park size, but then again, does Houston need something like that DT?
  5. marc
    i have faith in Houston's vision. I do believe H-town was burned in the 80s. This, of course, took time to recover from. But even during the bust times, Houston still grew in size, population and jobs. New freeways were added, existing mass transit expanded and remote outskirts became part of the metropolitan urbanity. Houston has also diversified in at least two major fields which promote growth......and more to our purposes here, highrise development. Houston's medical field and MC is arguably one of the best in the world. We already see the changes that area has experienced in the past decade. Houston has also diversified its major holdings. Yes, oil (petrolium and by products) are a major industry, but not the only one. Houston has vowed to become the energy capital of the US- and is jumping on the "green" energy train as well. The plans ExxonMobile, Shell and BP have for alternative energy sources is staggaring, and i KNOW Houston is going to benefit from that future trend. Add the fact that our civic leaders are pushing for more urban living inside the inner loop, ie. DT, UT and MT. IMHO, that is spelling and can only spell one thing--------------------} more vertical living which means more highrises and skyscrapers. i do not see a slow down or collapse of the medical industry. I do not see a slow down or collapse of newer, cleaner, cheaper alternative fuel sources and marketing. And finally, regardless of our take on the war, Houston is going to profit from it. (i leave you to be the judge of that). As far as booms go (i.e. Atlanta, NY, Chicago, LV and Miami) i think Houston is doing pretty good. m.
  6. marc
    ^^^^^^ I thought that would get some of you guys to fall off of your collective chairs!!!!!!!!!! What's SO WRONG about saying the B word? I have never seen anyone so scared and scarred by the late 80's bust as you HAIFers. Maybe i am trying to invoke the construction, architectural Houston gods to SHOW US SOMETHING. Talk about cautious..........sheesh. Should we recompile a list of what's happening and will happen regarding Houston construction over the next 3 years? Would that sway you at all? Oh ye of little faith. The signs are there OR do you feel i am jinxing it just by saying it? m.
  7. marc
    Excellent job with the rendering considering what you had; i agree. i am pleased that FINALLY developers have latched on to the virtual mecca of possibilities that that part of DT offers. Not only is it going to alter Houston's skyline from that angle, BUT it will also add to the density seen from all angles. Bring on the cranes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Shall we say it.............Houston is boomin' again. m.
  8. marc
    I would love to see some friendly competition over the next decade between DT, UT and MT. A race to build for either density or height, architectural style or famous architectural imprint: BUT instead of between rival US ciites, it is between areas in Houston! That would be cool. Only in Houston. m.
  9. marc
    The rendering is very cool. I hope the final product won't be tweeked too much and look different. This really has a contemporary feel to it and the garden area near the top is awesome. I wonder how visible it will be from the North and West sides. And to add what someone else already said- maybe someone could compile a Houston 2012 photo....not just DT, but UT and MT as well. m.
  10. marc
    Yes, i concede, like the awkward, ugly step-brother coming into the family, the JP Morgan Tower has some sort of place in my heart when i think of Houston. I just cannot actually define where it is! Seriously, though. I know it fits in with Houston's skyline (as TheNiche has pointed out to me earlier), i just really have never warmed to it. My heart still belongs to the Williams Tower and BoA Building: for 2 totally different reasons! m.
  11. marc
    Amen and Amen.........FINALLY someone has been brave enough to say the B word we all have been so hush hush about. I know the Boom/Bust of the 80's scarred us a bit, but c'mon, that was over 20 years ago. > Although the buildings are not as massive going up in terms of height, i do look around H-town and every side of our fair city has major projects, cranes, hardhats etc. going on. I tend to think of it as "the boom of the early 21st century" as i am sure historians will label it. Although i pine for a new supertall (i just like skyscrapers A LOT) i am seeing that the density is paying off in terms of making Houston look more and more urban. I searched and found a pix. of DT Houston circa 1978- really only One Shell Plaza and Penzoil Place were dominate with other midrises from the 30's-50s sort of creeping out behind. Then i looked up a pix. from DT Houston 1986/7. GOOD GOD! What a difference a few years make. Almost instant city in its transformation. SO, because H-town has so many high and midrises currently, the present-day transformation may not make as big an impression, but i still think the transformation will be noteworthy by, say, 2010-2011. But then again, this seems to be the trend with, not only US, but other cities around the world. I cannot wait to start buying skyline photos of these cities after 2010-2011! m.
  12. marc
    Yes, i do like it from the other side as well. Actually, as some of my past posts indicate, i really wish our "city's tallest" was shaped differently. I understand it harkens back to a different era, BUT, i still think it could be more architecturally interesting. The view of DT from the new park encourages me on a couple of levels. First, with the new Hines' additions, i think the view will even be better. Second, i think more and more people will view DT from that position, which could, lead to more ideas on how to "spruce" up that side of DT. It reminds me of what those in the Chrystler building thought of UT Manhattan in the 30's. Yeah, great view.........not much to see....skyscraperwise, i mean. Make sense? Anyway, thanks for the pix. Maybe someday they will reclad the thing in photovoltaic glass, add a spire, and give us something to be proud of DT. m.
  13. marc
    Is it just me, or does the JP Morgan tower's facade look dingy? m.
  14. marc
    Cool. Architect or engineer student? i wonder why the height of the spires is not given. That seems odd to me; especially when other buildings' spires and antenna heights ARE given. Weird. Anyway, good luck. Do you think the newest MH tower is the highest the MC will go? Or are they able to go even higher? (i mean in terms of FAA regulations, need for something that tall, etc.) m.
  15. marc
    Well, i have searched for over an hour now. The only thing i could find was a blurb in HoustonArchitecture which stated that the highrise appears to be taller than it really is. They still maintain that it is 25 storeys. How did you get 29?? Also, when it says they incorporated the parking structure into the design, does that mean that Pelli built on top of it or was the 9 storey structure a part of the 25 (29) storeys?? I wonder why articles are so hush-hush regarding the spires' height? That is sort of weird. A collosal oversight or something else? hmmmm. m.
  16. marc
    OMG! You are desparate. Tape measures? Geometry? Sorry, man (or gal...your profile doesn't specify) i looked at several info. sites yesterday and they only give the height to the roof. I am not sure why they don't include the spires. Both Emporis and Skyscraperpage were not forthcoming on the height of the spires. Very peculiar. Anyway, i will keep looking for you. I like a challenge, and i am a tenacious little bugger. m.
  17. marc
    Whoa, with all the "non" this and "non" that, i think i am getting confused as to who likes what. Anyway, an observation tower? I agree. i don't really want that for Houston either. But i do want some sort of global icon. m.
  18. marc
    Will do Vertigo58. If ever in LA, you wouldn't believe the changes made in that area. TWO highrise condos, about 5 blocks of new townhomes and higher end apts., a NOHO Commons with about everything you could imagine, the new Orange Line which stretches the entire Valley, and an up and coming movie theatre complex. i was considering moving from that area (until i move back here), but with all the new development, i am staying put. m.
  19. marc
    Yes, i love it. I took a trip down I-10 from The Grand Parkway to the Galleria a couple of days ago. It is awesome to see them getting rid of the cheesy strip malls and such to erect the mid/highrise towers. This, of course, bodes well for that area in offering higher paying jobs, meaning, for the most part, higher income residents. (not to be a snob, but Houston has enough low income neighborhoods) If i am lucky enough to live until say, 2030, it will very interesting to see the highrises lining all freeways for about 30 miles going from DT. It reminds me of the novel, BRAZIL. m.
  20. marc
    ^^^ Hey Governor, You've been really jaded when it comes to outstanding development in Houston, haven't you? Me......i keep hoping. I try hard to be optomistic about it. Maybe, just, maybe, some day, we will gain another visionary. m. keep the faith
  21. marc
    ^^^ Beautiful. Is the background in the Cathedral or just a background to display the statues?? I cannot wait to view this Cathedral once it is completed. Does anyone know- Will visitors be able to view the inside even if they are not attending Mass? Larger cathedrals in NY, Chi-Town and LA (along with the plethora in Europe) allow visitors to quietly and reverantly walk around the nave and narthex areas even though they are not worshiping. m.
  22. marc
    Yep. I don't care where it is built in the US, just build it! m.
  23. marc
    Well, for one: i hope San Fran gets this one. It really fits in with the present skyline. Although i do like the Rogers' red and black themed scraper. But, a couple of people who say it doesn't "fit" Houston sort of disappoint me. i feel that is what is lacking in vision for Houston. I do understand incorporating with the existing skyline, but i am also a big believer in BOLD statements. Look at Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower, Big John or more recently, Swiss Re Tower, Shanghai World Financial etc. Architects bold enough to create an iconic tower for a city are, in my book, awesome. OK, let's make it a bit more local and not so lofty. Those of you who know Austin know this: icons that represented Austin for years were quickly brushed aside the moment Frost Bank Tower was erected. IMHO cities BEG for iconic images. Houston could use a 21st century icon. If nothing else, thank YOU, TRAE, for keeping us imagining. Kudos. m.
  24. marc
    ^^^^ YES. As a matter of fact, look at Chicago and Philidelphia. Both cities got various versions of this beautiful building. Those of you who look at my other posts know i am relentless about wanting a tower in DT with a spire. I think it would add so much to the skyline. I am disapointed the BoSW did not get built. I remember seeing an old magazine from maybe '83-'84, i think it was TIME or it could have been TX Monthly, which featured this building. Anyway, as all know, many grand visions for Houston during that time were tabled due to the oil bust. But i keep praying to the architectural gods that if Houston is once again smart (as it was in the late 80's) and diversifies its interests to focus on "alternative to fossil fuel" energy, i think we will see something we can all be proud of in the next few years. m.
  25. marc
    I had the same thought, BUT i am NOT at work............but i will let you have it since you got to it first! m.
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