A Transformation Towards Urban Reservoirs
In Houston, flood risk has become an inherent aspect of urban life. Flooding, along with other environmental risks, is often a consequence of development strategies, urban governance, and planning frameworks that have historically conflicted with the natural environment.
This project explores what it means to recalibrate the engines of development in context of flood-prone Houston. Discourse around “resiliency”often fixates on the high ground, where sites are sought out for new development; and conversely, the low ground, where flooded land acts as a blank slate for open space. This dichotomy overlooks the complex negotiation between urban form and flooding over time. This projects confronts this challenge by searching for new urban typologies and design scenarios - a new type of commercial in the Mid Brays area - that mediate the spatial and political and investigate the tools, logics, regulations, or policies tha tprecipitate spatial change in the first place.
‘Before’ and ‘After’ Site Map: Hub + Strip Type
We began by identifying all commercial parcels within the Mid-Brays flood zone, pinpointing potential sites for adaptive reuse. Currently, commercial development in this area is dominated by two main types: larger hub centers and strip malls.
For our study, we selected Meyerland Plaza and a commercial corridor situated between Brays Bayou and Willow Waterhole Bayou, with several community ditches nearby. These areas represent the major public infrastructure that we believe these commercial spaces could be reimagined to connect with.
Transformation Diagram: Strip Type
Transformation Diagram: Hub Type
Transformation Guidelines:
Following our guidelines, we established a comprehensive set of transformation rules for both hub and strip mall types. These rules encompass grid layout, driveway placement, detention, structure, parking, secondary access, and building height.
We began by applying the surrounding urban street context to scale down the site into a grid for further operations. Next, we defined the building setback lines, incorporating larger buffers on the highway and main street sides to accommodate parking, and smaller buffers on the neighborhood side. Vehicular access was carefully mapped out, with a limited number of internal driveways to encourage a more pedestrian-friendly environment. Within this grid, we strategically placed detention ponds and adjusted building structures accordingly.
Considering driveway placement and buffering logic, we designated certain areas for roadside parking and unloading zones. When extruding the structures, we maintained the commercial footprint by varying building heights: taller, two-story structures were placed closer to highways, while shorter buildings were positioned near the neighborhood to minimize impact.
Hub Type:
Strip Type:
Program Catalog
The green roof, detention areas, and buffer zones offer opportunities for various potential programs and activities. These could include rooftop or outdoor dining, bike trails, forest pathways, grasslands, bridges over detention ponds, water features like fountains, and playgrounds.
To address economic concerns, additional programs such as residential apartments above the commercial spaces could be integrated. This approach not only helps share the maintenance costs of the detention ponds but also provides added incentives for developers.
