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Originally Posted by Jdawgboy
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I am really liking Waller Center. I think it is a good thing that there is a bit of a nod to the Austonian because it will enhance the now iconic skyline with more Austin style iconic towers. The first rendering was never intinded to be the final design and was too simple and bland IMO. The new rendering really broadens the concept in a beautiful design.
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"Austin style iconic towers," is an interesting phrase. Please expound on this statement. I am sure the latest designs for the Green Water site are not "Austin Style" nor are they "Iconic Towers." The Waller Center towers are great looking and they are not twin towers as might be the case at Green. The Waller cascade of height is very sexy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hill Country
That's good enough for me. That would make three towers in the ~700' range.
Having three towers in that height range (as long as they are fairly close together) give a skyline a nice symmetry as other towers seem to cascade away from the peaks. I think that makes for a much prettier skyline than a huge mass of towers that cover each other up. The skylines of Pittsburgh and Minneapolis have this kind of symmetry depending on the viewing angle. Those are two of my favorite U.S. skylines.
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Minneapolis does have a great skyline. Part of the reason, in addition to your comment, is that all new buildings must relate to the other existing buildings nearby and they have a review process that looks at the exterior. This started after an especially bland (ugly) tower was built. I hope the City of Austin has a say in the Green development...since the site is/was city property. These Waller Center towers, however, relate very nicely to the rest of the Austin skyline buildings. If built they will enhance the skyline. I look forward to seeing how they meet the street and the pedestrian.
The whole of a skyline is essentially a very public expression of the city. A city is very commonly represented in the media and advertising with an image of its skyline. If the towers have logos and names blazing across the top then I think of corporate/private/profit/trophy. I think of Los Angeles. If the towers are radically different in color, massing or height then I feel a very discordant and unsettled feeling inside. I feel this when looking at the Pittsburgh skyline and especially the new part of Shanghai, across the river from the older city. When I see the whole of the Houston skyline (downtown is impressive); from downtown to the Galleria and farther west...I think sub-urban, gotta have a car.
Most of this frenzied development in Austin is amazingly copacetic. The exception for me is The W which meets the street in an awful way and is of an odd gray color. They still have not been able to rent some of the retail on the street. Probably because of how the building greets and meets the street. The latest for the Green is an ugly brown; 80's cheap looking thing.
Bravo to all the other proposed and under-construction project that have "Austin Style", maybe not "Iconic Towers", but relate to the existing skyline and are creating One Hell of an Impressive Skyline, and street life.
Thank You to those responsible for all the recently built towers that relate to the skyline in a pleasing manner...and meet the street in a friendly human way, thus increasing the pleasure of being in downtown Austin.
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