Houston Conservation Center

When planning a conservation center Sahagun Architecture thought it essential that the building revolve around the natural flow of the water. A place where the modern elements of the building blends and balances perfectly with the nature that surrounds it.

Such importance is placed on the water due to the necessity for survival of the site. The water channels capture rain water runoff and supply water back to the site. By xerscaping (conservation of water thru creative landscaping), it becomes feasible to create a sustainable site.

This is achieved by grouping plants with common water needs, minimal turf area, permeable surfaces, and by providing more ground cover. The access of water has played a key role in the development of habitats and civilizations. This reasoning organizes the site and it’s components.

The separation from the building allows for spatial sequences to take place. This creates programmatic layering that filters out the urban context as one moves inward toward the botanic garden. The originating point of the water is defined entry of the site. A dogtrot aperature serves as the entry to the site and hearth of the building. Gardens are joined through open air information pavilions, connected through paths and gardens. The exterior canopy functions as a multipurpose gathering space to host exterior workshops or large events. Facing the water one enters the site through the edges of the lake.

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SPECS

Concept design

First Floor

Open Terrace: 8,357 SF

Café: 1,100SF

Retail: 1,157 SF

Ticket Booth: 74SF

Service Spaces: 1,635SF

Circulation/Lobbies: 491SF

Library: 1,528SF

Courtyard: 2,331SF

Galleries: 2,807SF

Second Floor

Galleries: 1,624SF

Service: 718SF

Circulation: 1,956SF

Office: 2,068SF

Multi Purpose Space: 2,725SF

Total Building SF: 28,671 SF

Exterior Space: 10,688SF, 38% Of Program Exterior Space

Interior Space 17,983SF, 62% of program indoor