Pennzoil Place, Houston

Pennzoil Place consists of two buildings that tower 36 stories into the air. They are located in Houston. They were built in 1975, and were designed by the firm of Johnson and Burgee. The building has won many awards for its innovative design.

The overall shape of the two towers is trapezoidal. The two structures sit only 10 feet apart at the base. The outer design was done in a dark bronze colored glass which is fixed in aluminum. The two towers are exact images. There is an atrium that connects the buildings, which is shaped like a pyramid. If you stand away from the complex, and move around a bit, you will notice that the shape of the buildings change in look. The optical illusion created by the shapes is quite fun to see indeed.

The architectural style is postmodern. Ludwig van der Rohe was the designer. In its day, it was considered a great stride forward in the design of skyscrapers for breaking with the traditional glass box style design. In 1975, the New York Times dubbed this place the building of the decade. So, you will have to take time and see this modern marvel.