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Mister X

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Everything posted by Mister X

  1. Constructive criticism? Sounds like negativity to me. But like Sub said, it keeps HAIF interesting. It's been a while since I've seen Rice Village, but the renderings look better than the way I remember it being.
  2. And on the upper side - there are people who already like the architecture in Houston and don't have to do anything but sit back, enjoy it, and watch the silly, frustrated, and angry people knock their heads together to make Houston first class in the eyes of New York and Chicago. But seriously, I'm glad people want to make Houston first class or better, I just don't have a lot of faith that typing negitive comments all day on the internet is going to make Houston a first class city. Houston has plenty of problems, I just don't think that the architecture is a big one. In fact, I think the architecture and the people are Houston's strongest assets. Now if we start talking freeway blight, open ditches, inadequate light rail, humidity, mosquitos, brown water, flooding, crime, lack of theme parks, lack of major league hockey, pollution, rap music, suburban sprawl, and big butts - I say type away - and use all capital letters for Christ's sake! Of course, I wouldn't expect the water to get any clearer, but at least I could understand the negitivity. (It's all about opinion here anyway - some people probably like rap music and mosquitos) If you guys can get us some world class architecture by whining on HAIF - more power to you. If it works, I'll be your cheerleader - or should I say jeerleader.
  3. Houston is so hopeless that everybody should just put a bullet through their head and be done with it all. Maybe we will be reincarnated as New Yorkers and then we won't have any problems. I agree with Subdude, the negativity make this place interesting. But luckily for me, I'm one of the many who likes most of the high profile buildings in Houston so I get to live in ignorant bliss, while the sophistocates are forced to wallow in the bowels of architecture hell. On the upside, I hear there are escape routes out of this void for those who can't handle it.
  4. As Houston is such an dismal place for architecture, I'm very surprised HAIF was ever created in the first place. Maybe I'm completely missing the point of this website, this isn't an architecture forum at all - it's more like a complaint desk to nowhere. Not only is the architecture in Houston a complete waste of building materials, but there isn't even any hope for any good architecture in the future. As architecture enthusiast, how can you guys sleep at night? It must be unending torture living in Houston. That must be why this site is run from Chicago.
  5. There is plenty of room in Houston for innovative, cutting edge architecture, but I would rather see more low profile, box type buildings in downtown or even no new skyscrapers at all than have a hideously ugly, uncircumcised, atrocity that would spoil the Houston skyline forever. At least as it exist now, people don't make dirty jokes about Houston's skyline. I love fresh design as much as anyone, but building just for the sake of being different doesn't work. Odd angles, ornimentation, and spires don't necessarily make a building good. The Houston skyline has a lot going for it. The boxy buildings only make the ones that are not, seem special. If all the buildings in downtown screamed out for attention and hit you like a punch in the face, we may as well be living in Dubai. Discovery Tower isn't even more than a gleam in someone's eye at the moment and people are already griping about it. Lets just ASSume that it will be dull and start the pointless and endless complaining now. Forget about the positives. Forget about adding density. Forget about the removal of another surface lot. Let just focus on what's wrong with a building that doesn't even have a fixed floor count, let alone a finished design for us to critique.
  6. I'd rather live in a city full of squares than a city full of dildos.
  7. Books-A-Million sounds fantastic. Any book store that puts sex books in the religious section is my kind of book store. I don't care if HP was only going to be one story high and it's anchor tenants were kmart and walmart, seeing 3 downtown parking lot eyesores turned into ANYTHING is worth sacrificing a virgin for. (and I don't mean the obsolete megastore) HP, the Park Tower, and Discovery Green are going to change downtown forever. Ten years from now no one will be able to remember how Houston existed without HP. This is a great time. Seeing these projects come to life is like witnessing the dawning of a new 21st century Galleria being built in the perfect urban location. Be psyched. Be very psyched.
  8. Maybe more whining and wimpering will make Houston the place it ought to be. Ouch! That must have hurt - as someone decided to delete it the first time I posted it. But lighten up everybody. It's just a little jab. I mean no disrespect. I don't have a problem with the Turnberry or Gary's opinion. And no one is getting over heated. I'm the one who's glad this building is going up, remember? What have I got to be heated up about? I'm happy, happy, happy! I see where the guys who wish this building was going to make more of an impact are coming from and I respect their opinion. There is no harm in wishing that this building was less safe and and more cutting edge. But is it a crime to just be content with this building - and happy that they are not buiding some cutting edge building that just comes out looking goofy and ruining the impact of Williams? If it is then sue me. It's out of us HAIFer's hands anyway, so what's the point of crying about it. I say, just make the best of it. Or not, I don't think anyone really cares if we like it or not. BTW the term 'artistic medium' in the previous post refers to the art of architecture in general, specifically placement and relation. Maybe 'artistic medium' was a poor choice of words. I never meant to suggest that the Turnberry had any special artistic merrit. I was speaking in hypothetical terms of all forms of design in general. Whether it be architecture, sculpture, painting, photography or graphic design, the same basic "rules" apply regarding placement and hierarchy. And in that regard the Turnberry doesn't do any harm to the area as a whole. In other words, when people take photos of the uptown skyline it will still look pretty good after the Turnberry is built - maybe even a little better, certainly more dense. As an entity upon itself the Turnberry is o.k. that's all, I would not call it "art". P.S. - please don't delete this, it's completely harmless opinion. Just like everyone else's. xxxooo
  9. Yes ProHouston, pessimism runs rampant on these boards. It's never big enough, nice enough or quick enough. Makes me wonder how some of these guys make it through the day.
  10. I wish people would stop putting words in my mouth. I never said the Turnberry was a good design. It's not that bad. It's not that good. It will slip into the background and allow Williams to continue to dominate. At best, it will add density and it won't compete with Williams, which I'm happy about. Clear enough? The Aquarius, for better or worse, will command it's own space, and building right next to another building that commands it's own space would be unfortunate. But it's not happening anyway so I suggest either making peace with the Turnberry, move to Atlanta so you can be near Aquarius, or just learn to enjoy life. The Turnberry could be a lot worse. It is not the best or most original design I've ever seen but at least it probably won't do any visual harm to the uptown skyline. That, in itself, is worth being happy about. But if you would rather sit in the humidity and complain about nothing, knock yourself out. Trust me, no one's listening and it will get you nowhere. If it will make you happy, you can always try to stop the Turnberry before they build it. I'm sure everyone would be happier with the dazzling structure that exist on the Turnberry site today. Bye.
  11. Where did you read that I said I like cookie cutter buildings? I love fresh architectural designs as much as the next guy, but get it right. Just because a design isn't run of the mill doesn't make it great. Furthermore, location and proximity is as much as part of the mix as style. I just don't think it does a skyline any good to have too many buildings that scream out for attention in close proximity. Some buildings should be the star, others should be the support. Just like any other artistic medium, in a perfect world, some things should dominate and be the focus and some things should receed and lend support. Judging by the size and shape of it, that Aquarius building in Atlanta would be hideous right next to Williams. It's probably fine right where it is. I don't want to cause a Houston/Dallas flame war so I won't go into whats wrong with the downtown Dallas skyline, but lets just say there is an awful lot of competition, clashing styles, and unnecessary ornimentation going on there. Some think that all that superficial flash makes it look interesting, I think that it just looks junky and forced.
  12. That Atlanta tower looks like one of those cartoon buildings in New New York in Futurama. It looks almost "Dallas grade" over the top tacky. I wonder if the big light will blink or change colors or something so that the tower will STAND OUT more. I agree that there is nothing really spectacular about the Turnberry, but I'm glad. Williams tower commands enough attention in that spot. Building some weird-looking competing tower too close could lessen the impact of Williams. The Turnberry as is might make a nice enough compliement in the area. It's another backdrop tower, but that just fine for that particular spot. It's size and proximity to Williams will give it enough of its own presence that it doesn't need any more bells or whistles than what they are already giving it.
  13. The Dallas skyscrapers are about as well grouped and organized as a tornado stricken trailer park. As far as architecture goes, downtown Dallas is a train wreck.
  14. You bet your @$$ you won't have a real port. But you do have your fair share of smog and choking.
  15. Yeah Dallasboi - Your so lucky. You can take your family down to the "Port" of Dallas any time you want and have lunch overlooking all the beautiful warehouses and watch all the exotic fork lifts and the sophisticated people operating them as they move cargo from one container to the other. What an awsome place to spend a day!
  16. I recently visited the Mall of America in Minneapolis for the first time. Although I'm not really a mall person, I was impressed by the simplicity of the 3 layer giant square mall design with the amusement park in the middle. There seemed to be something for everyone to see there. I think a Mall of America type developement would be perfect right across the Astrodome Hotel where AstroWorld was. Having an air conditioned small amusement park, some family friendly stores, and restraunts right across the old AstroWorld bridge would be such a convienient, major draw for tourist. It could even have its own light rail station. There are no other malls in the immediate area. Pearland and the southern suburbs are beginning to take off so the AstroWorld sight would be the PERFECT location. Plus, I love the idea of building some sort of small tribute to AstroWorld on the very sight it once stood. Believe it or not AstroWorld was a decent park long, long ago.
  17. Come on, west Houston could use a LITTLE flash and color. It's not like every building in town has a little personality. I mostly agree with you, but I don't think this topper is ugly, sue me.
  18. I don't think you have any perception of reality, you nut job. I'm sure I will be quite able to give them a hand. I bet I can even find a few hundred others who would like to help validate signatures if needed - on this forum alone!
  19. I wouldn't trust you to get an impartial anything. There will more than enough valid signatures to put the U-Line all the way down Richmond I can assure you.
  20. All I know is that there is non stop build up from north of Fairfield and beyond to south of San Jose and beyond (Oakland and SF are somewhere in the middle) and it is impossible to tell when one city begins and the next one ends as one drives on the roads and freeways. Any futher definition of metro area is bogus. It is what it is. The methods that the North Central Governments whatever agency uses to place DFW at number 4 is balony. Metro rankings mean nothing if they can't accurately be compared. If an agency wants to focus on or delete specific criteria in order to show a metros ranking in a certain catagory that's fine - but they shouldn't call the list an overall metro area ranking. Also, like the wikipedia disclaimer says - comparisons of metro areas should be taken with great caution. The standards used to compare metros are too inconsistant to be taken seriously.
  21. As far as ranking metropolitan areas, I think this quote just about sums it up. Evidently, people with their own agendas can make up just about any metro population numbers they want, to prove whatever they want. So if SF and San Jose are considered two different metro areas today even though they are just as connected as Houston and Baytown or DFW, then one day someone will make a list saying that Dallas and Fort Worth are two different metro areas - and then Houston will be the largest city in Texas AND have the largest metro area. That ought to cause some shock waves in DFW. I mean D and FW.
  22. I agree with firstngoal. Not one time in the 16 years that I have lived in California has anyone ever once brought up the "fattest city" title whenever I start talking about Houston - which I do often. The only thing I ever hear anyone complaining about is that Houston is too hot. This usually comes from people who stay indoors all day long anyway and are too stupid to figure out how to turn on an air conditioner. The fat thing would have died out years ago if only the people of Houston would let it.
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