SAN ANTONIO │ Official Hemisfair Redevelopment Thread

[jaga185]

They better not deem the institute of Texan culture to be saved. It's a hideous structure and needs to be gone. I don't understand how one can be attached to this building.

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by JACKinBeantown

Yes. The ITC is a POS, ugly, uninviting piece of Brutalist architecture, and not a good example of Brutalism. It takes up a lot of space for the small return that it offers. Its collection would be more appropriately housed in a building that represents Texan architecture, instead of Planet of the Apes architecture. There is nothing "Texan" about it, and it therefore has no qualities that qualify it to be a building of historical significance in any way.

If anybody speaks at a hearing or whatever about the subject, please feel free to quote me.

Goshdarnit I just respectfully disagree with all that.


It's an icon for the city imo. So many great field trips lol

[kingkirbythe....]

Yeah. I'm liking the idea of the preservation of this building.

[JACKinBeantown]

When in reality:

https://s.hdnux.com/photos/67/61/72/...0/rawImage.jpg

It looks like the cousin of Boston City Hall:

https://www.archpaper.com/wp-content...ty_Hall_1_.jpg

Which one looks more Texan? How many average Texans would want something that looks like it belongs in Boston? (Not too many, I would bet.)

I stand by what I said about the building not looking representative of Texan culture. You are, of course, entitled to your own opinion. We all are.

[kingkirbythe....]

Originally Posted by JACKinBeantown

When in reality:

https://s.hdnux.com/photos/67/61/72/...0/rawImage.jpg

Which one looks more Texan?

Perhaps the building that has the words Texan and Texas written on it.

[ahealy]

I mean, brutalism is actually pretty common here in TX. When I look at this and other landmarks, I see MCM TX. The old glory days during another boom. I love it!

UTSA


Dallas City Hall


and let's not forget...

[JACKinBeantown]

^^ I guess. Ironically, it's only because those buildings were built at the same time as other Brutalist buildings around the country and world (and in Robocop).

https://images.fandango.com/images/f...d-detroit2.jpg

I guess that makes it Texan as much as it makes it Bostonian or Washingtonian (DC - plenty of Bruatalist buildings there).

I've been in two of the above buildings (ITC and UTSA library) and both felt cold, dark and uninviting. After having been in them once, I never wanted to go back. I live in Boston and have zero intention of ever stepping foot inside Boston City Hall because it looks so uninviting and uncomfortable. Even the plaza around it is ugly and uninviting.

If people want the ITC to be a landmark with the result of all that land not being able to be used for something else/better in perpetuity, then send your voting vibes to the committee making the decision.


-------

Also...

Originally Posted by kingkirbythe....

Perhaps the building that has the words Texan and Texas written on it.

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by JACKinBeantown

^^ I guess. Ironically, it's only because those buildings were built at the same time as other Brutalist buildings around the country and world (and in Robocop).

https://images.fandango.com/images/f...d-detroit2.jpg

God Bless original Robocop

Originally Posted by JACKinBeantown

I've been in two of the above buildings (ITC and UTSA library) and both felt cold, dark and uninviting.

The cold and dark elements are mighty appealing in the sweltering/oppressive summers here, which is likely why I love thick concrete clad buildings so much. Feels like a futuristic space station...

Also, I didn't realize beantown was a Boston thing until very recently (never been). I'll be finishing my degree at Fisher next year, so I'm sure you'll see me on the Boston threads absorbing all sorts of local developments.

[Spoiler]

All we have to do is promise that the basketball arena replacing the ITC will be designed by Gehry or Adjaye and we're gold.

[JACKinBeantown]

Originally Posted by ahealy

God Bless original Robocop

The cold and dark elements are mighty appealing in the sweltering/oppressive summers here, which is likely why I love thick concrete clad buildings so much. Feels like a futuristic space station...

Also, I didn't realize beantown was a Boston thing until very recently (never been). I'll be finishing my degree at Fisher next year, so I'm sure you'll see me on the Boston threads absorbing all sorts of local developments.

Not a lot of Boston threads on SSP, so check out https://archboston.com/

Originally Posted by Spoiler

All we have to do is promise that the basketball arena replacing the ITC will be designed by Gehry or Adjaye and we're gold.

[kornbread]

Originally Posted by Spoiler

All we have to do is promise that the basketball arena replacing the ITC will be designed by Gehry or Adjaye and we're gold.

I could see SA having an arena that looked like it melted under the Texas heat.

[JACKinBeantown]

Originally Posted by Keegan-B-SATX

Removed

I would argue that the Tower of the Americas is an example of good Brutalist architecture and is much more representative of San Antonio and Texas.

Also, according to Wikipedia (and the sources cited in the description), Brutalism is originally a British form of architecture which resulted from socialism. Who thinks a majority of Texans want socialism officially representing their culture?

"In the United Kingdom, Brutalism was featured in the design of utilitarian, low-cost social housing influenced by socialist principles and soon spread to other regions around the world." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brutalist_architecture

[Rynetwo]

Originally Posted by JACKinBeantown

I would argue that the Tower of the Americas is an example of good Brutalist architecture and is much more representative of San Antonio and Texas.

Also, according to Wikipedia (and the sources cited in the description), Brutalism is originally a British form of architecture which resulted from socialism. Who thinks a majority of Texans want socialism officially representing their culture?

"In the United Kingdom, Brutalism was featured in the design of utilitarian, low-cost social housing influenced by socialist principles and soon spread to other regions around the world." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brutalist_architecture

This post lost me.

Random buildings in the state’s largest cities does not represent anything, but the time period they built.

[JACKinBeantown]

Originally Posted by Rynetwo

This post lost me.

Random buildings in the state’s largest cities does not represent anything, but the time period they built.

Fair enough. What I was trying to say is that Brutalism is not a Texan thing in the least, other than the fact that an architectural style that came from another country was also used later on in Texas. So the fact that it is the house of what is supposed to represent Texan culture is ironic. Then there's the added fact that Texas is politically very right wing, and the irony is increased much more knowing that the style of architecture used to represent Texan culture was born as the result of a political situation that is the antithesis of what the majority of Texans think (those who vote, anyway). It's just an esoteric rationale for having the opinion that the building's design is not representative of what it was intended to represent, and that another style of architecture might be more appropriate. In reality, I know that the building isn't going anywhere. It's older than most people on this forum, so they've known it their whole lives, and as a result, maybe now, ironically again, it represents Texan culture to them. So it goes.

[Sigaven]

Originally Posted by ahealy

Goshdarnit I just respectfully disagree with all that.

100% agreed, same with the federal courthouse/US Pavilion. Striking pieces of modernist architecture.

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by Sigaven

100% agreed, same with the federal courthouse/US Pavilion. Striking pieces of modernist architecture.

Indeed, just alter or build around them. The federal courthouse needs work, but would be a tragedy to demolish. Hemisfair gives SA a chance to have the old and new married together with new residents and patrons alike.

The thing I love so much about SA is our ability to preserve while also advancing. Soooo much heritage with this whole site. I'm so excited

[Sterling]

Originally Posted by JACKinBeantown

When in reality:

https://s.hdnux.com/photos/67/61/72/...0/rawImage.jpg


Which one looks more Texan? How many average Texans would want something that looks like it belongs in Boston? (Not too many, I would bet.)

I stand by what I said about the building not looking representative of Texan culture. You are, of course, entitled to your own opinion. We all are.

Boston City Hall sticks out like a brutalist sore thumb in a charming city of very human proportions. It might in fact, look better in San Antonio beside the monstrous highway. In spite of it's "gravity defying" silhouette, the Texas Institute looks like a heavy cooling plant built for a college campus. Love the institute, hate the building.

[JACKinBeantown]

My high school (Madison) was/is a brutalist POS. This is how it looked at the time. So I guess it's another example of how San Antonio is a home to brutalist architecture.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5163/5...090f3a0e_b.jpg

[Spoiler]

200 room hotel, ground floor retail, 17 stories.

https://sanantonio.primegov.com/Port...=187515&type=2

[kingkirbythe....]

That's fairly nice.