Nino Chen
Vernacular Holding Field
Somewhere Around Ordinary
Bread Cures All
DAGMO
Diverge
Mixed-Use-Houston
History-Urbanism Hub
Information
Contact
An Immigration Center
Brings Public into Intimate Houston
Interpreting the site as a bifurcated whole, this scheme emerges as a set of interlocking wings that manifest the topography of the contrasting edges of the terrain on which they are located upon. The arm located parallel to Allan Parkway serves as the public foundation of the building, while the arm that lies perpendicular to the Bayou becomes one with the landscape that surrounds it.
Therefore, these contrasting paradigms interconnect at the head of the building carving out a crevice that enables circulation to interflow between the two diverging wings. The wings, in dialogue with each other, also create a courtyard of sorts, a space that becomes a re-invented, protected yolk or heart of the site, almost flourishing as an extension of the vegetation.
To me, this micro-site frames views of the bayou and therefore unfurls as a representation of Houston in tandem, creating a dynamic yet intimate bond between the global immigrants and Houston.