Elizabeth_Ramos_Portfolio_2026

Portfolio

Elizabeth Ramos 2022-2026

Fabrica De Hillos

Fabrica de Hilos is a textile recycling facilitie located in Houston’s Third Ward. The project brings together industrial production and public engagement by making the textile recycling process visible and accessible to the community. The building supports the full cycle of textile reuse, from washing and shredding donated clothing to spinning, weaving, and sewing new products.

The design is organized using a modular structural grid that allows workspaces and machinery to be rearranged as needs change. Heavier production spaces are located on Level 01, while lighter fabrication, studio, and office spaces are placed on Level 02.

Environmental strategies such as daylighting, exterior shading, and an efficient envelope are used to reduce energy demand and create comfortable working conditions. Overall, the project focuses on flexibility, systems integration, and creating a building that supports both making and learning.

Wetland Arc

This project proposes a dynamic relationship between a wetland research facility and a recycling center, merging with community engagement. The recycling center, situated near the highway, ensuring efficient material flow. Dedicated to converting recycled plastics into gardening tools, it supports sustainability and local agricultural practices.

Across the site, the wetland research facility fosters both wetland research and community involvement. Half of the building is reserved for research, while the other half serves as a communal hub with gardening spaces, event venues, and markets. This dual purpose strengthens the connection between the community and the surrounding landscape.

Urban Canopy

Houston’s Third Ward is a historic neighborhood known for its deep African American roots, vibrant arts scene, and strong tradition of activism. Located southeast of downtown, it has been a cultural and political hub since the early 20th century.

The neighborhood is home to Texas Southern University (TSU), one of the largest historically Black universities in the U.S, and Emancipation Park, a historic site founded by formerly enslaved people in 1872. Third Ward is also known for Project Row Houses, an influential community-based arts and social justice initiative that promotes affordable housing and cultural preservation. While the area has faced economic challenges, disinvestment, and increasing gentrification, local organizations and residents continue to advocate for equitable development, affordable housing, and access to essential resources, such as grocery stores and public services, to support longtime residents.

Botanical Museum

Located near the Menil collection the Botanical Museum of Modern Art allows art to have a connection with nature while admiring different artists’ work.

Visitors are introduced to a double-high lobbying, which invites them to walk across to the other side, which showcases sculptures outside. The museum’s interior is designed to enhance the natural landscape, with expansive windows that frame views of the outside world. Exhibits are carefully curated to encourage visitors to explore both the interior and exterior, with pathways that lead from gallery to garden, inviting contemplation and connection with the environment.

Botanical Museum of Modern Art also encourages artists to create art in the studio adjacent to the gallery area. Studio spaces are surrounded by expansive windows just like the gallery space to crate a more open environment. Visitors can view art being created from the outside and when they are in the cafe.

Venus Market

Venas Market was created by a student in the entrepreneurship program at the University of Houston. The project was initiated to invite women-based sellers specializing in Y2K vintage fashion. Their mission is to uplift small business owners, give back to the community, and provide an exclusive experience. I was tasked with creating floor plans for how the space could be utilized to host eight sellers. I was also tasked with finding different methods by which clothing racks could be placed inside the space.

Studio Arts Minor

Media used:

elizabeth.r2375uh@gmail.com