ZIEGLER COOPER
Essay 20.5.1
THE POINT TOWER For More Walkable Urban Living
Hines’ Aris Market Square, Houston, Texas
Point Tower Characteristics & Advantages “A point tower is a compact, tall and slender residential building form with a small footprint, resting on a wellappointed mixed-use podium below.” – Scott Ziegler, AIA
In great part, the point tower typology came about to help provide higher density development for more walkable, urban living. A point tower lifts all residential units away from the hustle-and-bustle of the street while creating opportunities for desirable views for the residents, and more opportunities for active retail and commerce below.
In This Series, ZCA Looks at the Many Attributes and the Significance of the Point Tower Typology.
1. One significant attribute of a point tower, for example, is its ability to reduce the street walleffect that is created by long, bulky buildings that pedestrians too often encounter on city streets. The street wall-effect is the result of form-based zoning codes prevalent in many major US cities, such as New York and Chicago, that create bulky layer-cake buildings. These buildings may narrow as the tower goes up but allowing only a thread of sunlight to reach the street level. Nevertheless, the street wall-effect remains, and it detracts from the pedestrian’s sense of safety and well-being, blocks healthy sunlight, and limits activity at street level. Hines’ Aris Market Square in Houston, shown here, is an exemplar of the point tower endowed with good design to activate the street and enhance the city’s skyline. The architectural expression of this 32-story residential tower employs brick, and accents of stone and glass to articulate a well-detailed podium structure. Hines’ Aris Market Square is a luxury apartment tower that is home to 274 apartments ranging in size from 570 to 2,227 square feet, appointed with contemporary European-style kitchens, wood floors, and upscale bathrooms and closets. 2
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2. Creating a pleasant human scale at the street level of the Market Square Historic District, the tree-lined streets of Preston and Travis create a welcoming canopy of shade for outdoor dining. The bustling street level is articulated with a pilastered retail expression with expansive structural glass, and large-scale architectural canopies that cantilever out over the base of the retail to reinforce the pedestrian zone.
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4. Other amenities afforded by the point tower-over-podium design typology in this instance include a stunning roof-top pool deck and terraces, and outdoor living and kitchen for entertaining.
3. Among its generous street-level amenities, Aris boasts the Bravery Chef Hall with its five distinctive miniature restaurants and three bars in one, and a Secret Garden reminiscent of the tree-shaded courtyards in the New Orleans French quarter.
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Summary ZCA has been fortunate to work with many insightful developers that have allowed us to create beautiful additions to the built environment. ZCA first introduced the point tower to Houston in 2008 with the development of the iconic 2727 Kirby and has now designed 60+ high-rise and midrise urban residential towers.
2727 Kirby
“Today’s lifestyle trends embrace walkable urban-living.” Axel Weisheit, AIA Senior Project Designer Associate Principal | Urban Residential Studio
Check back for the next in our series of essays discussing the point tower typology: “What’s the point?” Upcoming essays in the series: 20.5.2 – That’s a Wrap! - Garage podiums and wraps 20.5.3 – Parks, Pocket Parks and Signature Greenspace 20.5.4 – Small site? No Problem!
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About The Author: Scott Ziegler, AIA As Founding Principal of the firm and leader of the Urban Architecture Studio, Scott’s design experience reflects his belief that inspirational architecture enriches people’s lives, uplifts the human spirit, and provides a constant vision of excellence. As Residential Senior Practice Area Leader, Scott plays an active role in shaping the urban landscape through the firm’s built works and his published writing in professional journals on the subjects of sustainable urban growth strategies and high-density mixed-use developments. Ziegler Cooper Architects 700 Louisiana, Ste 350 Houston, TX 77002 t: 713.374.0000 www.zieglercooper.com