TA24-J F-Pages - Flipbook - Page 89
The site is enveloped by trees that form a canopy between Bellaire Boulevard and the park areas. To address Houston’s 昀氀ood vulnerability, the parkland
has been intentionally shaped to manage 昀氀oodwaters e昀昀ectively with tree
canopies and winding pathways that guide visitors through the site. Natalia
Beard emphasized her team’s “desire to create a welcoming and lush park,
departing from Houston’s characteristic never-ending horizon landscape.”
Their approach embraced porosity, promoting a seamless connection between
interior and exterior spaces. In line with the community-centric vision, SWA
Group’s landscape design turned the site into a civic gathering place for the
Alief community, with the goal of establishing a fresh, resilient development
model for Houston in the post-Hurricane Harvey era.
The 70,000-sf neighborhood center building sits atop a hill, concealing
parking below; the site was once home to a community hall and open 昀椀elds for
public use. Elevated above the park’s tree canopy, the center’s library o昀昀ers a
scenic view of the outdoor facilities to the south. A central staircase is a focal
point of the lobby, providing space for seating, circulation, and gathering.
A notable feature of the center, 昀椀tting in with its roadside context, is its
larger-than-life welcome sign. Five 16-foot-tall aluminum letterforms proudly
spell out “ALIEF,” serving both as a welcoming symbol and a shade structure
for the entry patio. As Jonas Risén aptly puts it, it’s “the biggest front porch in
Texas.” The center doesn’t just cater to functionality; it creates an open, cozy
ambiance. Art pieces adorn the grounds, celebrating the diversity and the sense
of community that the Alief Neighborhood Center represents.
Conceptually, the building functions as a versatile one-stop shop for various
community needs, catering to di昀昀erent age groups. Grandparents can visit
the senior center; parents can access WIC services; and children can enjoy
the library, demonstrating the center’s versatility. Underscoring the design’s
e昀케ciency, Risén describes it as essentially “a vacuum-sealed, programmatic
massing model.”
The task was to create a space that would allow the three departments
housed within the building — health, parks, and library — to share facilities
but still be able to function and provide the capacity needed for the community.
The health department is conveniently located closest to the entrance and,
according to Risén, experiences a substantial daily in昀氀ux of visitors. One of
the goals of the design was to spatially separate the health department from
the parks department on the first floor, while the second floor houses the
library department and “techlink” spaces. Despite this division, the design
ensures a smooth connection within the building to enhance work e昀케ciency
and facilitate the use of shared meeting rooms.
The Alief Neighborhood Center has become a vital part of the community,
seamlessly blending with the landscape and becoming a highly coveted third
space. It also serves as a prototype for inclusive design that will, hopefully, be
replicated throughout Texas and beyond. By rede昀椀ning the concept of third
spaces within the sprawling expanse of Houston, the Alief Neighborhood
Center & Park has not only addressed the challenges posed by the city’s unique
urbanism but has also set a new standard for community-driven design. Its
dynamic programmatic blend is thoughtfully arranged for efficiency and
accessibility, and the artful design logic, both in the building and landscape,
re昀氀ects a deep understanding of cultural diversity and urban resilience. From
its larger-than-life welcome sign to its lush outdoor spaces, the center exudes
a sense of community.
Rodrigo Gallardo is a recent graduate of the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture
and Design at the University of Houston and is a designer at Collaborate Architects.
Top “The Alief Swarm” by Bennie Flores Ansell. 1,000 CNC-cut images of shoes shaped
like butter昀氀ies symbolize community unity.
Center Library vistas o昀昀er glimpses of the surrounding tree canopy.
Bottom An indoor running track circles above the basketball court, providing elevated views.
1/2 2024
Texas Architect 87
