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arche_757

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Everything posted by arche_757

  1. arche_757
    So someone who is pursuing unknowns - a physicist/biologist/chemist/astronomer etc. - is generally stupid because they must (by the very nature of what they are attempting) use free and independent thought to arive at whatever conclusions their research or examinations will determine? The very idea of pursuing a masters degree or doctorate of philosophy is to examine a problem that has yet to be solved (and in some cases even asked) and resolve it, or at the very least shed light upon the problem. Those independent thoughts should fill the average person with wonder and hope, not fear. conservative (defined): holding to traditional attitudes and values and cautious about change or innovation, typically in relation to politics or religion
  2. arche_757
    California also must have projects engineered to meet their seismic conditions and environmental impacts that are not considered in Texas.
  3. arche_757
    I'm curious if oil prices will affect the DFW market any? Yes, you guys aren't nearly as reliant upon commodities for your economy - but part of one of the major shale plays is actually IN the DFW metroplex!
  4. arche_757
    To say that the work of Phillip Johnson is all recycled would be wrong. Pennzoil, Republic Tower, Transco are all noteworthy highrises - even if they are all post modernist towers. The new Amegy tower highrise is simple, clean, uninteresting. Not saying its bad - far from it - it just is not a wonderous work of architecture.
  5. arche_757
    I never said it was a very dangerous game, just a dangerous one! Though this building is little more than a sleeker version of a building that went up in the TMC not too long ago. All in all, this tower is a let down from the quotes (read above) about how pleasing it will be. Best building "on" the West Loop... like saying the best building in Greenspoint - doesn't take much. That said - I'll reserve further judgement until other angles/renderings are presented.
  6. arche_757
    This is fantastic! Will like to see more accurate renderings - though this is a Holl design, it'll probably be all wispy and foggy in appearance upon completion! Like Lake+Flato's design too, given the context I'd say its a nice addition. That and I understand the MFA has an undersized restoration area so this should bode them well.
  7. arche_757
    I like how they used Metro's color pallette! And I like the "upward swoop" of the northern edge of the building! Clearly they're thinking about drainage during a 100 year event! (that swoop is just a rendering hick-up)
  8. arche_757
    Looks ok. Like I said before - far from being the masterpiece it was lead on to be by "those" and "them." I think the AMEGY sign does indeed take away from what is otherwise a clean edifice. Thankfully we don't have too much signage on towers in Houston.
  9. arche_757
    When I worked downtown the options to avoid the rain made my commute longer than need be, so I just brought a slicker or kept a good umbrella with me! That way I didn't need to worry about the tunnels. I actually prefer walking outside than underground. I find the argument about the heat to be the most compelling reason to use them - but even then I still think they aren't needed.
  10. arche_757
    The tunnel system is not needed. At all. Its superfluous. Completely unnecessary! It would be like having a subway that runs under the RED Line - with the same stops! Except that they're harder to get to, take more time and energy to find, and they actually only would run about 2 of the 7 miles of the RED Line. Oh, and the subway wouldn't cross from Point A to Point B in the shortest distance - it would traverse from Point A to Point B in roughly twice the distance winding around in a way that makes one think "This system wasn't ever planned - ever!" ...even though its been around since what the 1970s? 40 years!
  11. arche_757
    See. Amegy (or their "handlers") are toying with people's feelings! Not cool Amegy, not cool!
  12. arche_757
    Those guys moved very fast though! And that building - while decent - is hardly an architectural gem. Its actually a shame something better wasn't built in that location and that 20something corporate tower wasn't built ...I don't know... a block or two south on an empty lot! Oh well
  13. arche_757
    Since this is an architectural forum - we're entitled to have opinions on architecture. I'm sure the architects and developers working on the Memorial Hermann Tower at Memorial City Mall thought that they too were working on greatness? We all know how that turned out. Swtsig... you're a smart guy. You can "catch my drift" in my post saying Amegy is playing a "dangerous game" right? You're right I should have placed the blame (if that's what it is) at the people posting about how great this thing is - and not Amegy since they've been fairly mum on this topic as you pointed out? Still, you can understand what I'm saying. Expectations are seldom reality. Particularly here in Houston. Designs are always "tweaked" until construction starts (and then guess what - changes still continue to happen as the need arises). That's the business! That's how it is. I worked at a major firm here in town (not locally based) for 3 long years and saw some really great buildings there get V.E.'d until they were no longer great! I also worked on stuff that -when I worked on it- I thought it was great. Sitting back with some context I can tell you it wasn't. That's also the nature of the business.
  14. arche_757
    People who work on projects tend to think they're much more important and of greater value than they actually are. You can use whatever verbiage you'd like, but you catch my drift. I'm just saying I think it is silly Amegy hasn't put a rendering out there. Their choice. A bright, fancy new highrise is an advertising icon for any company - much less a bank that relies upon an image of "energy" and "vibrancy," and drawing new customers to itself.
  15. arche_757
    So you're saying HL3 will be released in the next 14-18 months?! That's fantastic! Seriously though, I fear Amegy is playing a dangerous game... They've built, and built, and built up this building to be the greatest thing since sliced bread and we've seen zero. I still will assume this thing will be far from the great work of architecture folks are thinking it will be, and far from the wonderful building the Amegy Bankers think it will be. Hope I'm proven very wrong with that opinion!
  16. arche_757
    New Orleans has a W Hotel...or did. New Orleans and Houston (downtowns at least) aren't on the same planet when it comes to hospitality. What is the obsession with the W brand?
  17. arche_757
    Yes, but if we're remaking things - why not remake the entire pool complex? No one wants to use an old pool over a new one.
  18. arche_757
    ^Interesting. However, shouldn't there also be an area where people can just float around and swim casually with their kids and friends? Still, good to see ideas like this taking root in this town!
  19. arche_757
    USPS might lose out on a better price for the land, but big developments like this site have potential to offer us - take time. Could be this thing works through all the kinks and problems over the time we're in a "down" economy (at least due to oil). Will remain to see if the overall health of the US economy due to lower oil prices will drive other industries in Houston - it could very well do that.
  20. arche_757
    ^True. At least its an example of what not to do... I mean it would work in a tighter development area - like in/around the old part of Downtown. It would still be pretty blah, and pretty bad architecturally, but it wouldn't be so visible and such a blight on the surrounding area. Not to sidetrack this thread, but does anyone actually know anyone who lives there? In the Mercer? It may be a pretty nice place to live?
  21. arche_757
    Hey now. That's insulting to reptiles!
  22. arche_757
    Because we're all experts and want to express our expert opinions. In regards to the former post with retail under 5-6 floors residential... that's not a hotel? Right? So are we expecting residential rather than hospitality in this area? I'd assume any future big hotels would locate in the Downtown district rather than out of it...even if just a block or two away...unless the developer gets some hefty incentives from the city? I think the East End will see (in years to come) some nice smaller scale hotels on par with Hamptons and the like. Probably just a couple, and probably 5+ years away (though the Super Bowl push is pretty impressive).
  23. arche_757
    You know... I've been thinking its a shame this building is just 1 block away from the biggest/tallest building Downtown. Yes we'll see 609 often enough in various angles on the skyline, but the "iconic" Houston shot from Eleanor Tinsley Park will not have said building visible. Personally I'm not a big fan of that view because the 40-50 floor towers along Smith Street typically obscure many of the other buildings in Downtown. (by the way: thanks for the continual photo updates folks - its nice to see for those of us who do not work/live etc. in the central city)
  24. arche_757
    Duh... we have the Astrodome!
  25. arche_757

    Why so curious?

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