Houston buildings (Rice: apartment, credit, construction)

[newtohouston2]

One thing that really stands out from Houston compared to other places I've been is the exterior of buildings often look very different. I'm referring to these exteriors that are smooth-ish and painted in some earth color. Most of the newer apartment buildings and shopping centers are done this way. I'm more used to brick/siding exteriors. Does anyone know what it's called and what it's origins are (i.e. Latin influence?). This look, while nice, makes me feel like I moved to another country or something.

[glorplaxy]

Stucco?

[potato head8]

Originally Posted by glorplaxy

Stucco?

Yeah, I think it might be as simple as stucco.

I do think some buildings take from a sort of Spanish heritage though.

St. Anne's Catholic Church & perhaps Rice University are some examples.






Edit: I suppose another way of framing this is that Houston has Spanish heritage which can legitimately reference the use of stucco from our historical past. California, Arizona, & Florida can do the same. Stucco in Minnesota or Massachusetts, however, is less convincing.

[glorplaxy]

Originally Posted by potato head8

Yeah, I think it might be as simple as stucco.

I do think some buildings take from a sort of Spanish heritage though.

St. Anne's Catholic Church & perhaps Rice University are some examples.

Interesting. The church looks similar to a lot of churches I have seen in Mexico except they use bricks down there....and those churches are much older.

I wonder if there are stucco churches in Spain? That is stucco, isn't it?

[jfre81]

I think you might see a few more examples in another thread upcoming soon...

[potato head8]

Originally Posted by glorplaxy

Interesting. The church looks similar to a lot of churches I have seen in Mexico except they use bricks down there....and those churches are much older.

I wonder if there are stucco churches in Spain? That is stucco, isn't it?

I'm certainly not an expert in stucco or architecture, but a quick wiki search tells me stucco is everywhere. I think the main difference between modern & traditional stucco is the composition. Seeing that a lot of Islamic architecture & Baroque art use stucco, it wouldn't surprise me if the same can be said for Spanish churches.

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by potato head8

I'm certainly not an expert in stucco or architecture, but a quick wiki search tells me stucco is everywhere. I think the main difference between modern & traditional stucco is the composition. Seeing that a lot of Islamic architecture & Baroque art use stucco, it wouldn't surprise me if the same can be said for Spanish churches.

Well, of course the nebulous "other places" was cited. "Other places" usually translates to "places I've been but not necessarily ones I haven't." Just saying.

[potato head8]

Originally Posted by jfre81

I think you might see a few more examples in another thread upcoming soon...

aaand *thumbs up*

[SouthernBoy205]

Are there more skyscrapers either proposed, approved or under construction in Houston? Just wondering.

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by A&M Bulldawg

Are there more skyscrapers either proposed, approved or under construction in Houston? Just wondering.

The most notable ones would be MainPlace and Discovery Tower downtown. Both are nearing completion. The recession and tight credit markets have kind of put a crimp on new projects most everywhere though.

In fact, we'll be seeing MainPlace toward the end of a little something I'm putting together right now...