AUSTIN | Photos & Videos Thread - Page 16

KevinFromTexas · #**301** Posted **Feb 28, 2013, 12:48 AM**

Charlotte and Minneapolis, too, are two of my favorite skylines of their size. They're two skylines I wouldn't mind Austin ending up looking like some day.

migol24 · #**302** Posted **Feb 28, 2013, 1:25 AM**

Austin would just need a couple 700' and at least one 800' or 900' to go toe to toe with those two skylines. Austin already has the aesthetics to go for it.

The ATX · #**303** Posted **Feb 28, 2013, 3:14 AM**

Both those cities have corporate downtowns which leads to a few tall headquarters buildings. Austin has a residential downtown, so I think Vancouver has become our path.

KevinFromTexas · #**304** Posted **Feb 28, 2013, 3:34 AM**

This is just epic.

• Video Link

wwmiv · #**305** Posted **Feb 28, 2013, 4:13 AM**

I want one from today... Not 6 years ago.

The ATX · #**306** Posted **Feb 28, 2013, 4:27 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwmiv

I want one from today... Not 6 years ago.

I was thinking the same thing. No Austonian, W, etc. But this was pretty awesome several years ago.

KevinFromTexas · #**307** Posted **Feb 28, 2013, 4:32 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BevoLJ

Here are some videos of the Parade from someone in the Parade.

It is about the 3:30 to 4 min mark of the 3rd video that they enter downtown. But it is pretty fun to watch the whole ride. All the videos. Pretty cool.

• Video Link

These are worth a look again, too.

KevinFromTexas · #**308** Posted **Feb 28, 2013, 4:43 AM**

Here we go.

• Video Link

• Video Link

And there's something interesting in that unassuming 4-story building next to I-35.

• Video Link

MightyYoda · #**309** Posted **Feb 28, 2013, 4:46 AM**

I agree that Vancouver is most likely our path and a good one at that. Vancouver has one of the most stunning skylines in the world. Aesthetically, Austin has a wonderful setting and we are very lucky with the buildings that have been built in contrast to many cities our size.

lzppjb · #**310** Posted **Feb 28, 2013, 5:02 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MightyYoda

I agree that Vancouver is most likely our path and a good one at that. Vancouver has one of the most stunning skylines in the world. Aesthetically, Austin has a wonderful setting and we are very lucky with the buildings that have been built in contrast to many cities our size.

This is what I'm talking about. I've heard many times that Vancouver's skyline is awesome, but I just don't see it. It looks great at night, but it's an eyesore during the day, in my opinion.

migol24 · #**311** Posted **Feb 28, 2013, 5:11 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lzppjb

This is what I'm talking about. I've heard many times that Vancouver's skyline is awesome, but I just don't see it. It looks great at night, but it's an eyesore during the day, in my opinion.

Yup... that's just your opinion. Cause it sure ain't plenty else's.

http://www.fortpark.ca/wp-content/up...-creek-day.jpg

KevinFromTexas · #**312** Posted **Feb 28, 2013, 5:21 AM**

One thing is I don't care for the "condo tower" look. White shapeless buildings covered with balconies. They just look so, monotonous and redundant. Miami is another one that comes to mind here. But, those two aren't the only ones. Honolulu also has tons of condo towers. Even the condo towers in places like Seattle, Denver and Chicago get a little boring from building to building. And this isn't a comment on those cities or me badmouthing them, it's a trend with any city with a lot of condo towers. I just hope Austin doesn't go down that path of having building after building of the same old same old. Of course, I think Austin is going to see more apartment buildings than condos just because of the demographics of the city. Austin tends to be full of young professionals, and young people tend to rent rather than buy. It's especially true right now with the economy here. So many people are moving to Austin from far away - sometimes from outside of Texas for work. Some of them may stay here or not. So it makes sense to have more rental properties than condos. I'm also not sure the downtown residential market is quite mature enough just yet for a lot more condos. For a while at least, I think it'll mostly be apartments.

lzppjb · #**313** Posted **Feb 28, 2013, 5:25 AM**

I've seen that photo. That's why I asked earlier what makes people say a skyline is stunning. Is it just density? Height?

The buildings in that photo remind me of sim city or something. Maybe it's just the checkerboard look of the individual windows being opened/closed/blinds. I don't know.

The water and park land are wonderful. The mountains in the background are stunning.

lzppjb · #**314** Posted **Feb 28, 2013, 5:27 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

One thing is I don't care for the "condo tower" look. White shapeless buildings covered with balconies. They just look so, monotonous and redundant.

Bingo. Miami and Honolulu were the others I was thinking of.

KevinFromTexas · #**315** Posted **Feb 28, 2013, 5:36 AM**

Check out the perfect shadow of Frost Bank Tower on the Hilton in this one. Also notice in the video around 2:35 that they actually play it backwards. Note the cars going backwards on the bridges. Full screen is best.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOVrNoymHl4

migol24 · #**316** Posted **Feb 28, 2013, 7:10 AM**

I'm sorry. The comments on Vancouver are not computing. It is one of my favorite American skylines. But I don't wanna turn this into a city vs city debate.

I really love the way the condos look in that photo. It has a uniqueness to it from the usual tall office skyscrapers. It's a bit futuristic... like a scene from "Ghost in the Shell." But I agree that Austin should take on its own personal identity for a skyline. For me, a skyline is very beautiful when there is cohesion blending well with its surroundings, and also involving variations in height and density. In other words, a little bit of everything.

I personally think that Austin is doing a pretty good job and if it takes on a similar approach as Vancouver, I don't think Austin would be far off from having a great skyline.

The ATX · #**317** Posted **Feb 28, 2013, 7:37 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by migol24

I'm sorry. The comments on Vancouver are not computing. It is one of my favorite American skylines. But I don't wanna turn this into a city vs city debate.

I really love the way the condos look in that photo. It has a uniqueness to it from the usual tall office skyscrapers. It's a bit futuristic... like a scene from "Ghost in the Shell." But I agree that Austin should take on its own personal identity for a skyline. For me, a skyline is very beautiful when there is cohesion blending well with its surroundings, and also involving variations in height and density. In other words, a little bit of everything.

I personally think that Austin is doing a pretty good job and if it takes on a similar approach as Vancouver, I don't think Austin would be far off from having a great skyline.

One minor correction: Vancouver is a city in Canada. It's not an American city.

(Unless you meant North American.)

KevinFromTexas · #**318** Posted **Feb 28, 2013, 7:42 AM**

I think for me it's just that most of the buildings have very similar colored glass. I like variety. The designs are nice, it's just that the glass looks so similar from building to building. Nothing stands out. Of course I know that's not everything that is important, and Vancouver is an amazing city of course. It's one of the cities that got me interested in urbanism and skyscrapers. Vancouver's skyline looks like a forest to me. A habitat for humans. Maybe that was the intention of the city planners and architects. It does match well with the surrounding forests.

wwmiv · #**319** Posted **Feb 28, 2013, 7:48 AM**

I hate Vancouver's skyline. It is atrocious. It has no form. It is flat. The buildings are all badly designed and generic. Signature towers are few and far between and unfortunately blend into the rest of the skyline without actually defining the city's skyline like a signature tower should.

I'd love to mimic Vancouver's street activity, sure, but I'd rather do it in a more interesting and aesthetically pleasing way.

wwmiv · #**320** Posted **Feb 28, 2013, 7:50 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

I think for me it's just that most of the buildings have very similar colored glass. I like variety. The designs are nice, it's just that the glass looks so similar from building to building. Nothing stands out. Of course I know that's not everything that is important, and Vancouver is an amazing city of course. It's one of the cities that got me interested in urbanism and skyscrapers. Vancouver's skyline looks like a forest to me. A habitat for humans. Maybe that was the intention of the city planners and architects. It does match well with the surrounding forests.

I agree with all of this except for one thing: the designs are not nice.