I grew up in Houston and love it, but I love Paris more.. It's not even a competition, even if you throw architecture out the window.. Paris is just a better city IMO..
... and there is no sense in comparing the two. i think the article really only used houston as an example of a modern skyline, something paris doesn't have and assumably doesn't want, that's all.
Except one small problem: Texas State Fair = Dallas Texas != suck. Dallas = suck. Therefore... Dallas != Texas.
I think the question or point of the OP is... why single out Houston? I don't think the point was "HOUSTON IS WAY BETTER THAN PARIS, WTF?" I think it was "Why pick on H-Town?" It's the typical "Pick on the easy target" mentality, and that always irks me. There are lots of cities with skyscrapers, why pick Htown to make your snobby point? For all you "Paris is better" people... let it go. You've missed the op's point, and are letting the hometown cheerleaders who chimed in drag you into making equally, if not surpassingly, irritating arguments and comments. Additionally, "not casting a shadow" makes it a "better skyscraper" makes no sense to me as well. If you ask me, that glass pyramid isn't all that attractive. But it casts no shadows... HOORAY! Taste is relative... they put a pyramid (not a skyscraper, but...) outside the Louvre, too, and it ruined the view of one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. Français Idiots. But again, I agree, there was no reason for TIME.com to single out and slam H-town for buildings created downtown that were built decades ago. Can't say I'm surprised though. Of course, we could always go to the "If we argue long enough, the French will give up soon enough" card. Nahhh. FREEDOM FRIES RULE!
I have a feeling that the reason Houston was chosen for this particular article was not due to downtown's "ugliness" (it's not ugly). It's due to the sporadic nature of Houston buildings. Houston has three areas that would qualify as "downtowns" by any normal standard and plenty of tall buildings in between those areas as well. Not a slam per say, just that Houston is the best (and maybe the only) city that has this unique spread-out and laid back attitude towards skylines and development. No other major city is unzoned like this.
exactly what i was going to say... houston was singled out due to our lack of zoning, which has led our fair city to develop 3 prominent skylines and many other sporadic highrises throughout.
