Sky-guy Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Are u sure? I thought Huntingdon was still tallest.It is. By 2 feet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avossos Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Is there a possibility it's something other than stucco? I'm not a materials guru. Yes, of course. This is likely brick, but I am not sure because no one has listed out the materials... Only an insider will be able to give us this information. If it is not brick, the entire feeling of this building changes, and by my measure, would not be appropriate for market square. Only brick will look good here. People who think the design are bad are entitled to their own opinion. It is refreshing to get some different stylings on residential buildings.It will have extremely similar proportions to OPP. So you can expect that. My only issue with the comments are the skyline comments: A skyline is not planned out and forced into certain shapes. and the skyline is only the same in the exact same position. Our city is thriving and tall buildings are going up - sorry they are not where you want them? From my view, it will look great... If you dont like the angle you see downtown now - look from a different one. In terms of the garage and the placement of the building: my thoughts are - the more they push this from the edge of the street (away from market square), the more visiable it will be from the building. By renovating the garage, they are saving money. The garage currently has ground floor retail which would be nice if they kept. Now ideally they would redo the garage completely, but the plus side is another building can make use of the visual volume left open by not building directly above the garage. There are pluses and minuses, but overall this is a huge upgrade and a beautiful and upscale urban development! I have high hopes for this. More info will come available in time. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swtsig Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 ya i'm pretty shocked (not really) that this is being met with so much disdain. the site by itself makes orienting the building much more difficult since it is long and narrow. the design - assuming this is brick - is exactly what many here have clamored for which is a much more cohesive form to the historic distrcit below. they don't own the garage so what can they do there? the cries over the skyline are pretty ridiculous IMO - this is organic growth, just like Avossos above me stated. you don't like the view coming from the north? just keep driving b/c it will change drastically. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 I'm not following the bad location argument, unless you mean the orientation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 ya i'm pretty shocked (not really) that this is being met with so much disdain. the site by itself makes orienting the building much more difficult since it is long and narrow. the design - assuming this is brick - is exactly what many here have clamored for which is a much more cohesive form to the historic distrcit below. they don't own the garage so what can they do there? the cries over the skyline are pretty ridiculous IMO - this is organic growth, just like Avossos above me stated. you don't like the view coming from the north? just keep driving b/c it will change drastically. Well said. Except I thought they did own the garage, but plan to incorporate it into the development (a cost-savings that may make the building feasible, where it otherwise might not have been). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avossos Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Well said. Except I thought they did own the garage, but plan to incorporate it into the development (a cost-savings that may make the building feasible, where it otherwise might not have been). I thought I read this before - that they had purchased the garage / planned to rennovate it. I am not sure, but you are right. They didn't plan to take it down for a reason, whatever that may be. It might not be a stretch to think it could be re-faced with similar material to the building. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 I'm guessing the portion on the right in the shadows of the garage is where the pool will go? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wxman Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Okay...before any of you fire back at me and tell me what a crazy prick I am, here is a shot of the coveted north facing skyline. I understand that skylines are not planned out. They just develop certain ways and it just so happens, our skyline is kickass. I really have no idea where this building is going to sit but I guestimated. After my very elementary drawing, it MIGHT not look all that terrible afterall given the orientation of the grid in a NE to SW configuration. Is my drawing below even close to reality? IF IT IS NOT, then you don't have to rip me a new one. Just correct me. Thanks 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Looks like a pretty good addition to me 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monarch Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 ok, officially nice! i shall add more... when i see more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 It is. By 2 feet. Ah... Thanks for clarifying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClutchCity Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 (edited) Okay...before any of you fire back at me and tell me what a crazy prick I am, here is a shot of the coveted north facing skyline. I understand that skylines are not planned out. They just develop certain ways and it just so happens, our skyline is kickass. I really have no idea where this building is going to sit but I guestimated. After my very elementary drawing, it MIGHT not look all that terrible afterall given the orientation of the grid in a NE to SW configuration. Is my drawing below even close to reality? IF IT IS NOT, then you don't have to rip me a new one. Just correct me. Thanks I thought it looked like it'd be on the other side of the Lyric Center, making it extend the skyline north. Don't understand how it covers up Pennzoil. Edited March 13, 2014 by ClutchCity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Yes, it would be to the other (east) side of Lyric Center. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wxman Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 My bad. Like I said, I was just randomly drawing it in. If it is to the east of the Lyric Center then that would be even better!! I guess I'm all for this tower now. All it took was a visual. I'm good. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avossos Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 My bad. Like I said, I was just randomly drawing it in. If it is to the east of the Lyric Center then that would be even better!! I guess I'm all for this tower now. All it took was a visual. I'm good. Thank goodness... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fernz Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 I agree 100% with montrose1100. This will stick out like a sore thumb when coming into town on 45s. Couldnt be a worse location. Hate the building. it's going to look awkward as hell.Agree as well. Looks as bad as Hanover's Post Oak tower did when it was built over 10 years ago. I agree 100% with montrose1100. This will stick out like a sore thumb when coming into town on 45s. Couldnt be a worse location. Hate the building. it's going to look awkward as hell.Agree as well. Looks as bad as Hanover's Post Oak tower did when it was built over 10 years ago. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 In terms of the garage and the placement of the building: my thoughts are - the more they push this from the edge of the street (away from market square), the more visiable it will be from the building. By renovating the garage, they are saving money. The garage currently has ground floor retail which would be nice if they kept. Now ideally they would redo the garage completely, but the plus side is another building can make use of the visual volume left open by not building directly above the garage. If it is my criticism of the garage you're responding to, it doesn't seem like you read it carefully. I have no problem with them reusing the existing garage. What I have a problem with is them devoting the frontage along Milam Street that isn't already taken up by the garage to what appears to be a long entrance to the garage from Preston Street. The building itself should be in that space, and it should have ground floor retail on the side fronting Milam Street/Market Square. There are many other ways for cars to get into the garage. I understand that the main façade will have to face Preston since the site is too narrow otherwise, but at least part of the building itself - not a covered driveway - should be on Market Square. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 My bad. Like I said, I was just randomly drawing it in. If it is to the east of the Lyric Center then that would be even better!! I guess I'm all for this tower now. All it took was a visual. I'm good. Thank goodness... I get so tired of this attitude people have on here that people's opinions are worthless just because they're not a real estate developer with the financial power to affect things. Someone needs to start a Houston Development Cheerleading Forum so that all the sunshine pumpers have a place of their own, and the people who want to sometimes voice criticism and disagreement can stay on HAIF. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 If it is my criticism of the garage you're responding to, it doesn't seem like you read it carefully. I have no problem with them reusing the existing garage. What I have a problem with is them devoting the frontage along Milam Street that isn't already taken up by the garage to what appears to be a long entrance to the garage from Preston Street. The building itself should be in that space, and it should have ground floor retail on the side fronting Milam Street/Market Square. There are many other ways for cars to get into the garage. I understand that the main façade will have to face Preston since the site is too narrow otherwise, but at least part of the building itself - not a covered driveway - should be on Market Square. That does seem like a missed opportunity and a rather inefficient use of space in the structure, if it's merely a passageway to the existing garage. Perhaps the lower floors of the tower are also parking, so that those doors are not just entrances to a long covered driveway. Either way, it would seem to make more sense to put them on the western end, rather than using up the parkside space. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avossos Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 If it is my criticism of the garage you're responding to, it doesn't seem like you read it carefully. I have no problem with them reusing the existing garage. What I have a problem with is them devoting the frontage along Milam Street that isn't already taken up by the garage to what appears to be a long entrance to the garage from Preston Street. The building itself should be in that space, and it should have ground floor retail on the side fronting Milam Street/Market Square. There are many other ways for cars to get into the garage. I understand that the main façade will have to face Preston since the site is too narrow otherwise, but at least part of the building itself - not a covered driveway - should be on Market Square. No I wasn't responding to your criticism specifically. I hate half the stuff on here dude... I want the best for the city, and I get really excited about things in general that look promising. I am supportive of this effort but realize my criticisms mean nothing to the developer. There may be a reason I don't know about... My only complaint is the skyline argument, which i described fully. But the comment you specifically made about my "thank goodness"... that's my personality shinning through - and I debated putting a winky face. At the end of the day, you can't control what anyone types. I just don't know why you let yourself get so worked up about it - who cares?. Eat a brownie and watch the cityscape rise! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Allow me to play mister grinch.Houston's architecture (post recession), is a joke and this building is the punch line. Let's pretend it's actually a great design. The colors will make this building stick out like a sore thumb (I don't care for 1200 Post Oak, or any other tower along uptown park boulevard. Don't get me started on the hotel).Those colors work next to picturesque oceans with white sandy beaches. Not in Downtown Houston, not even in any American city outside of Florida. Sure this could be te crown jewel of Destin.I am well aware of how organic skylines are. I apologize for being dramatic and channeling LTAWACS, but when I see something like this it kind of upsets me. I feel like they don't see the bigger picture, or even how it would work with the surrounding structures.So anyways I'm just upset that this city is experiencing some good growth and all we get are these low quality designs and very rarely something special. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avossos Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Allow me to play mister grinch.Houston's architecture (post recession), is a joke and this building is the punch line.Let's pretend it's actually a great design. The colors will make this building stick out like a sore thumb (I don't care for 1200 Post Oak, or any other tower along uptown park boulevard. Don't get me started on the hotel).Those colors work next to picturesque oceans with white sandy beaches. Not in Downtown Houston, not even in any American city outside of Florida. Sure this could be te crown jewel of Destin.I am well aware of how organic skylines are. I apologize for being dramatic and channeling LTAWACS, but when I see something like this it kind of upsets me. I feel like they don't see the bigger picture, or even how it would work with the surrounding structures.So anyways I'm just upset that this city is experiencing some good growth and all we get are these low quality designs and very rarely something special. This is valid. Maybe we are only seeing preliminary stuff here. If this was stucco and yellow, I see your point. Maybe the brick will be earth tan/brown and match some of the existing older buildings? Maybe there is some stone detail. I will be honest, if this tower looks cheap, and is of poor materials (stucco / too much wood / etc) I will feel robbed of what could have been. I am happy with OPP, I cant remember if you said you didn't like it. If you didn't - why? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 No I wasn't responding to your criticism specifically. I hate half the stuff on here dude... I want the best for the city, and I get really excited about things in general that look promising. I am supportive of this effort but realize my criticisms mean nothing to the developer. There may be a reason I don't know about... My only complaint is the skyline argument, which i described fully. But the comment you specifically made about my "thank goodness"... that's my personality shinning through - and I debated putting a winky face. At the end of the day, you can't control what anyone types. I just don't know why you let yourself get so worked up about it - who cares?. Eat a brownie and watch the cityscape rise! I'm probably less worked up about it than you think, but you're just the latest in a long parade of people on here who have tried to stifle conversation with this "What're ya gonna do about it?" line. The worst of them answered every opinion with a professorial lecture on neo-liberal market economics, and you aren't nearly as bad as that. But I do think that a vigorous and healthy climate of architectural discussion and opinion ultimately does affect what developers do, otherwise they wouldn't keep doing things here that would never fly in cities that care more about the interaction between public spaces (like Market Square) and the built environment. The way this building is site planned, you'd think Market Square was on the Louisiana Street side rather than the Milam side. No developer in his right mind would try disrespecting an important square like that in Boston or New York or even Philadelphia; the public outcry would make his life miserable. And for good reason. Quality spaces are important to the public, and the public needs to guard them carefully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fernz Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 Yes, it is preliminary. But preliminary, conceptual designs should be aspirational. When they get developed, reality kicks in and takes the magic away. This one doesn't have any magic to begin with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatesdisastr Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 Yes, it is preliminary. But preliminary, conceptual designs should be aspirational. When they get developed, reality kicks in and takes the magic away. This one doesn't have any magic to begin with. Yup... Reality didn't so much kick in for Embassy Suites, it slapped each and every one of us across the face 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh Stone Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 This new tower is beautiful. Most people are going to love it. Just like most people love Christmas and can't really relate to grinches or their personal issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 This new tower is beautiful. Most people are going to love it. Just like most people love Christmas and can't really relate to grinches or their personal issues.Having a passion for quality architecture is not a personal issue. I didn't make fun of anyone who opposed my opinion, and neither should you. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh Stone Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 (edited) Your taste (or lack of it) is absolutely a personal issue. If you are entitled to reiterate your opinion, then so am I. I have a passion for quality architecture, I say this tower is very nice. You called yourself a grinch. I'm not making fun of you, I'm only agreeing with you. Edited March 14, 2014 by Hugh Stone 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fernz Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 Yup... Reality didn't so much kick in for Embassy Suites, it slapped each and every one of us across the face Great example. Also, I don't have pictures, but remember the renderings for the cosmopolitan? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sky-guy Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 Great example. Also, I don't have pictures, but remember the renderings for the cosmopolitan? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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