AUSTIN | The Independent | 690 FEET | 58 FLOORS | Complete - Page 102

jowens · #**2021** Posted **Oct 5, 2018, 5:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geckos_Rule

What's upsetting is that the Independent looks worse than the Russian towers, the Miami tower, and the New Jersey tower...

I would say the Independent is about equal in looks to the Harborside Tower in Jersey City, with both having a mesh "skirt" hiding the damper/mechanical.

78701 · #**2022** Posted **Oct 5, 2018, 6:40 PM**

I actually like how the light plays with the mesh, sometimes making it almost translucent, only to render it opaque a few hours later when the sun rotates. Also, I expect it to play well with the same mesh covering the parking podium at the bottom. My only real issue with it is the incomplete top row.

JACKinBeantown · #**2023** Posted **Oct 7, 2018, 1:06 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lzppjb

It's like looking at a girl in shear clothing. I can see everything!

A girl made of stacked boxes.

Urbannizer · #**2024** Posted **Oct 23, 2018, 9:36 PM**

The Independent by Darius Fontenette, on Flickr

the Genral · #**2025** Posted **Oct 23, 2018, 11:56 PM**

That's the podium covering?? YIKES!! Well, looks like the hat matches the shoes, and they are not quite complimentary to the in between part. That's a bit disappointing.

Echostatic · #**2026** Posted **Oct 24, 2018, 12:37 AM**

Could the podium covering be better? Definitely. But, I do like how the podium matches the top, and both are similar to the railings. Still a little disappointed.

ohhey · #**2027** Posted **Oct 24, 2018, 3:04 AM**

I don't really like the mechanical screening on top, but it's not that big of a deal for me. I'll get used to it - the same way I didn't like the Austonian's crown but got used to it.

The base of the Independent is the part of the building that's inexcusably bad. I don't see a single appealing design element there.

Urbannizer · #**2028** Posted **Oct 24, 2018, 7:08 PM**

The Independent by Darius Fontenette, on Flickr

ATXboom · #**2029** Posted **Oct 24, 2018, 10:48 PM**

Ouch... All I see when I look at the building is a 50 foot high chain link fence at the top. Looks like crap! And now this base is getting the same treatment... a big parking garage wrapped in chain link fencing. #Fail

resansom · #**2030** Posted **Oct 25, 2018, 12:36 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATXboom

Ouch... All I see when I look at the building is a 50 foot high chain link fence at the top. Looks like crap! And now this base is getting the same treatment... a big parking garage wrapped in chain link fencing. #Fail

I hate it, too, but it doesn't look like anything has changed, on the top or on the bottom of this building, from the earliest renderings:

At least it appears as if they're planning on putting plants on the screen over the podium/parking garage. Maybe they can do that all the way around...

drummer · #**2031** Posted **Oct 25, 2018, 6:22 AM**

It fits the aesthetic of the substation, so there's that.

Third + Shoal: "Look at my pretty new parking garage!"

Independent: "Hold my beer."

ahealy · #**2032** Posted **Oct 25, 2018, 3:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by drummer

It fits the aesthetic of the substation, so there's that.

Third + Shoal: "Look at my pretty new parking garage!"

Independent: "Hold my beer."

hahahaha. Yep. They really fucked up with this one.

Sigaven · #**2033** Posted **Oct 25, 2018, 5:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by resansom

I hate it, too, but it doesn't look like anything has changed, on the top or on the bottom of this building, from the earliest renderings:

At least it appears as if they're planning on putting plants on the screen over the podium/parking garage. Maybe they can do that all the way around...

The one difference is that missing top row of mesh on the mechanical screen. Looks sooo much better topped off like in the rendering.

drummer · #**2034** Posted **Oct 26, 2018, 1:28 AM**

If they do have greenery up the sides of it, it could be a saving grace. Most of the time the green walls shown in renderings are sadly missing from the final products...but it would be pretty cool to have a green wall, and it could give cause for a pretty basic screen around the parking garage.

corvairkeith · #**2035** Posted **Oct 27, 2018, 9:59 PM**

Ant131531 · #**2036** Posted **Oct 27, 2018, 10:18 PM**

I remember when I first saw the renderings for this building, I thought it was incredibly cool, unique, and thoughtful. I feel like it looks a lot cheaper than I thought it would be and the "jenga" effect just doesn't really play through that well. And the parking garage screening just looks awful.

To me, it doesn't really deserve to be Austin's tallest so I hope you guys get that 800+ foot proposal built which looks a lot better than this.

deerhoof · #**2037** Posted **Oct 28, 2018, 4:54 AM**

Those are awesome pictures and this building looks great! Thanks for posting!

KevinFromTexas · #**2038** Posted **Oct 28, 2018, 12:18 PM**

I gotta say, though, the skyline looks awesome from the east. If you're driving along say, FM 973 or I83 or parts of 130, the way The Austonian and The Independent appear together is impressive. At one point they even come together. It's just a unique view, and one I never would have imagined would be possible in Austin.

Armybrat · #**2039** Posted **Oct 29, 2018, 12:54 AM**

Maybe they’re going to hang some of those jalapeño light strings on top of the birdcage up there.

Jdawgboy · #**2040** Posted **Oct 29, 2018, 8:10 PM**

This building really does look good from a distance. I'm lucky enough to walk down my driveway and look up the street to see it perfectly framed. I'm very interested to see how they plan to light the crown. They better be planning to light the crown...

At least from a distance, it's harder to tell what the crown is made of and can't see the garage portion.