RIVER OF GREEN LIVING WITH TREES

Information

Design IV Spring 2021

Instructor: Rasa Navasaityte

Location: Austin, TX

Description

Located on the corner of 22nd and Pearl, “River of Green” explores the intersection between mass housing and green space. In a world where interaction with nature has become increasingly uncommon, “River of Green” seeks to bring trees into daily life.

Each unit has access to a shared or private green space that residents must navigate to reach their apartments. Additionally, the curved form of the units and ground condition encourage movement through the courtyards framed by the surrounding vegetation and structure.

In the hot summers, these gathering spaces are shielded from the heat of the sun through the shading created by the trees and units above.

Design Excellence Nomination

Concept development began with the exploration of space through planes, rooms, and the endless. These designs were then placed in a field and rotated to create a diverse field of spaces.

Unit Variability

The two ground-level courtyards create spaces for students to gather while also providing shaded transition spaces for others who are simply walking to a destination. The open courtyards invite students to walk through the River of Green rather than around it.

First Floor