Comments on: Getting Houston Right: The Toll Brothers Come to Town

By: Hung Pham

Hung Pham — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:06:56 +0000

Do NOT buy Toll Brothers homes.

By: wilf

wilf — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:25:37 +0000

I think the Houston vernacular should be a cinder block house on stilts with a low pitched roof and shingles that are painted white. If only we could just love and embrace the “old school Pensacola Beach” pre-Hurricane Ivan look. Instead, builders throw up junk that looks like a hybrid Hagia Sophia/ Neuschwanstein Castle. Unless, of course, they just cover some wood-like product in stucco and call it “Mediterranean”.

By: movocelot

movocelot — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 23:56:23 +0000

Surely within your rights!
I’ll be wearing stealth paint, however.

By: RWB

RWB — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 23:42:44 +0000

From movocelot:

@RWB:
I can’t WAIT to see your giant SILO of a home!
================================
Just remember, if you come visit my castle unannounced, I am fully within my rights to fry you with my laser.

By: movocelot

movocelot — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:53:40 +0000

@RWB:
I can’t WAIT to see your giant SILO of a home!

By: RWB

RWB — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:31:48 +0000

“How on earth am I supposed to pour boiling oil on unwanted visitors if those windows are not useable?”

Typical 10th century mindset. In your modern turreted villas, high-quality shatter-proof glass windows can repel objects hurled at them (even crossbow bolts!) while leaving you free to fire your lasers at on-rushing invaders.

By: Jimbo

Jimbo — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:16:36 +0000

I’m a little concerned that it looks as if the window in the turret immediately above the door in each example does not open. How on earth am I supposed to pour boiling oil on unwanted visitors if those windows are not useable?

By: mikeyyc

mikeyyc — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 20:34:14 +0000

Oh good. Turrets and faux Tuscan. I was worried for a minute and thought that interesting design had come to suburbia. :(

By: JAH

JAH — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 18:25:13 +0000

Question: What should Houston vernacular be? By that I mean, what type of residential architecture design is most logical with respect to our climate, region and lifestyle? The home designs as represented by the Toll Brothers are typical of the amalgam homes that proliferate throughout Houston. The two designs represented in this piece are pure kitsch – regardless of how well made they may be or the “amenities” lavished upon the interiors.

The Hill Country and Austin both possess vernacular employing indigenous materials – split face limestone – and a mixture of elements capturing key elements from Spanish Missions, turn-of-the-century farm houses and modernism. While this in itself is an amalgam the end results are more pleasing and “honest” than the stucco containers for humans that dot Houston’s landscape.

By: RWB

RWB — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:36:08 +0000

I want to live in a house that is one big turrent, with a four-car garage facing the street on the ground floor (basically two two-car garages on either side of the entryway) with a two(or more)-storey entryway projecting from the front of the house with an arched top. With glamorous Tuscan stylings, natch. Think Toll Brothers can do that for me?

By: Scott

Scott — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 13:37:43 +0000

This is why I voted for turrets in last year’s worst-of-the-worst contest. Maybe they think people will be in their turret looking for pirates. Argh matey!

By: MikeRG

MikeRG — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 03:22:31 +0000

At least the second example is comparatively restrained and tasteful.