Energy Maker Belt
The site is located in an industrial part of Houston about 3 miles from downtown. The area includes many different industries contributing to the anthroposphere including elastic polymers. Being that it’s an industrial area, there is a lot of traffic during business hours; semi trucks come and go and you can hear the beeps of back up alarms in the distance. We noticed that any area that is not part of a business property that is left unmaintained. Trash, weeds and overgrowth are allowed to accumulate in the peripheries. The Energy Maker Belt has the dual program of a waste to energy plant and a maker lab. Both look to convert existing conditions to a more welcoming environment.
Visitors are encouraged to walk or bike throughout the complex. The northern building 1 is the waste to energy plant where people can look inside and witness the process of converting waste to energy. The maker lab is the next destination on the belt 2 where waste and recycled products are used as material for new objects, extending the life cycle of otherwise discarded material. This building houses 3D printers, CNC machines and wood/metal workshops. Building 3 and 4 of the complex are pavilions that take visitors closer to the bayou and back around to the lower level of the maker lab. Building 4 has a lookout, and is where the belt loops back. From this vantage point visitors can rest and check out the view of downtown from the lookout.
Hill House
Edwards Plateau is a region that runs across central and western Texas. It is characterized by its limestone bed rock and semi-arid environment. Rainfall averages between 15-34 inches per year, with precipitation becoming sparse the more west you go. The climate is less humid and relatively more temperate than other regions in Texas. For this project we had to design a dwelling that interacts and takes advantage of its surrounding environment. The Hill House takes nods from the Sky House by Kikutake in Tokyo and adapts it to the Texas hill country landscape. The project is elevated slightly on rocky ground with savannaesque brushes throughout. It takes advantage of the more temperate climate,the central circulation/living area is unconditioned providing nodes within the structure conditioning only when necessary. The center area of the home has a sky light allowing only a comfortable amount of light in and gives room for an indoor garden.
PERCEPITATION (1981-2010 ANNUAL MEAN)
HILL HOUSE
Edwards Plateau
Kemah Beacon
Kemah is located about 34 miles south east from Houston along western part of Galveston Bay. The city’s first settlers, the Kerankawa people named the area after the persistent and ever present wind. The elevated highway 146 is a recent addition to the city which follows the same path of a historic railroad that connected the city to the rest of the region. Highway 146 runs north-south and was recently expanded in 2024, giving the city a wider artery connection to Houston and surrounding cities. The main attraction of the city is Kemah boardwalk which brings in 4 million visitors a year.
The wind, highway and the ever active presence of the boardwalk makes for a hectic/lively site. The Kemah Beacon is located at the corner of 7th street and highway 146, both active thoroughfares bringing people to and from the boardwalk . The project looks to capitalize on this advantageous location with a non tourist centric approach, giving a space for the community and its events.
The Kemah Beacon serves as a lookout, elevating visitors to an elevation of 8 feet, allowing for views of Galveston Bay.
KEMAH BEACON
