Joël

https://architecturecompetitions.com/houstonchallenge/

Houston’s East End neighborhood is the ethos of the city of Houston. Dating all the way back to it’s earlier days, the neighborhood has been a hotbed for culture, diversity, innovation and creativity. Tapping into these roots, the concept for Meridian and the heart of the design is the manifestation of community- a circle. The circle is broken at the human scale into three circles representing the German, Italian, Mexican roots with the Hispanic circle being the biggest out of respect to the larger amount of Hispanic People in the area, as well as the three districts that make up the neighborhood. These circles are even further broken down into multiple circles and variations of circles representing the diversity and culture that have arisen around the

neighborhood as the years have progressed. All tied together by the greater circle which acts as the spine and connection between all areas of the site and the Bayou which harkens back to the days of the trading post. The site consists of a gradient of spaces that aim to respect and compliment the residential portion of the neighborhood on the southwest/southeast while allowing for more year-round active commercial/civic on the northeast portion of the site. Multiple forms of transportation are provided throughout the site which further speaks to it’s connectivity, from bike paths and walk/run paths on both the ground level and the elevated pipe above the site to a light rail in the pipe that allows for faster transportation. Restoring the site to it’s ecological origins with bridges above allow for the flora and fauna of the bayou to return undisturbed.