Galveston Seawall Design Competition News, Houston Charrette, Texan Project Contest, Property USA

Galveston Seawall Design Competition : Architecture

Rice Design Alliance Charrette, Houston, Texas, United States of America

Jun 29, 2009

Galveston Seawall to Benefit From Design Competition

Charrette by Rice Design Alliance Partners aims to revitalize Galveston beachfront and downtown district

HOUSTON (28 June 2009) – Rice Design Alliance (RDA) Partners will challenge architects, designers, and interested public participants to assess the iconic Galveston Seawall during their annual design charrette* and competition. The charrette, Seawall Ecosystem, will be held August 8.

Participants will consider how to unite the disparate elements that give the island locale its distinct character. Winning designs will be announced at a public reception on August 10.

Galveston Seawall Competition

The design intent of the charrette will be revealed the day of the event. The location of the project will be a hinge between the downtown district and the beachfront. Participants will consider how the Seawall on Galveston Island is an ecosystem and its interconnection between the Galveston community, the Gulf of Mexico, and the visitor experience. The charrette will concentrate on new and existing systems, atmospheres, and interactions surrounding the Seawall.

“After the devastation of Hurricane Ike, the RDA Partners Committee felt it was important to focus on Galveston. By gathering to think through ideas of tourism, sustainability, and city improvement, we can bring designs to the table that may otherwise never be seen or considered,” Kathryn Fosdick, Associate Director of Programs for RDA, said.

Charrette: 8 Aug 2009
Award Reception: 10 Aug 2009

WHERE:
Rice University College of Architecture
Anderson Hall (Building 4)
6100 Main Street (Off Entrance 1)

A pre-charrette site visit will be held Saturday, July 18th. Participants will meet at FishTales (2502 Seawall Blvd.) at 12:00 p.m. for lunch and a talk by Chula Ross Sanchez, a member of the Galveston Planning Commission, and architect Brax Easterwood. A tour of the site will follow lunch.

The charrette entry fee is $20 per person ($15 for RDA members) and will cover breakfast, a box lunch, and refreshments. Lunch the day of the site visit is not covered. The competition is open to architects and non-architects, individuals or teams of up to five. The entry form is available on the RDA website. Jurors for the competition will announce the winning designs at the award reception, which is open to the public, on August 10, 2009.

The winning entrant will receive tickets for the 2009 RDA lecture series, as well as The Sustainability Award, a sculpture done by Houston artist Navid Ghedami (of Mind Puddles Gallery.)

Previous RDA Partners charrettes have included “Stirring Up Buffalo Bayou”, looking at ways to increase Buffalo Bayou tourism, and “Bridging the Park”, which resulted in the bridge now being funded by the Memorial Park Conservancy.

RDA Partners is geared to young RDA members in their 20’s and 30’s, and those who are young at heart. RDA Partners enjoy experiencing architecture and entertainment at special events designed just for them. Partners activities offer volunteer opportunities for active members who will become RDA leaders of tomorrow.

The Rice Design Alliance is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of architecture, urban design, and the built environment in the Houston region through educational programs, the publication of Cite: The Architecture + Design Review of Houston, and active programs to initiate physical improvements. Membership is open to the general public. For more information please call (713) 348-4876 or visit www.ricedesignalliance.org

Location: Houston, Texas, United States of America

Houston Architecture Designs

Houston Architectural Designs – recent TX property selection from e-architect:

The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art
Design: Rogers Partners

renderings of The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art. Courtesy of Rogers Partners
The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art, Houston

Flora
Architecture: Clayton Korte

image courtesy of article provider
Flora Restaurant Houston

Nancy and Rich Kinder Building News
Nancy and Rich Kinder Building Houston
Musaafer Restaurant
Architecture: Chromed Design Studio

photo © Julie Soefer
Musaafer Restaurant

Nancy and Rich Kinder Building at Museum Of Fine Arts Houston
Design: Steven Holl Architects

photo : Peter Molick, Thomas Kirk III
Nancy and Rich Kinder Building