The Homestead – A Master-Planned Community
Location Intersection of Clear Lake City Blvd. & Middlebrook Dr. Houston, Texas Conceptualization Period 2015-2018 Architecture Stella Maris Architecture
Landology Landscape Architecture
Reem Bou Hamdan, Architect, Netherlands
Kevin Shanley (retired), SWA Landscape ArchitectsResearch Leonard Bachman, University of Houston Civil Engineering Hardey Group Structural Engineering RDP Engineers Real Estate Rick Wade, Licensed Realtor Artistic Visualization Sterling Illustration
The Homestead is a master planning proposal for a Houston community, ideally implemented in a mixed use scenario. Its title, The Homestead, evokes the spirit and purpose of the community; the establishing of an enduring and nurturing environment ideal for the formation of the character and happiness of its citizens.
The design is guided by two complementary principles: a planning principle and a development principle. The planning strategy intends to foster social, educative, and protective functions through intentional scaling and programming. The development strategy will foster the mental and physical well-being of the community by means of integrative approaches to existing and proposed natural systems of the ecology, geography, and climate.
Integration with the ecology of the Houston bayou system and the Houston climate is the beneficial backdrop and inspiration of the studies and design.
The Homestead began as the architect’s seeking of knowledge through a period of conversations with landscape architects and others of various disciplines. Over time, salient points of importance emerged about building in the Houston area and about building in general. These discussions revolved around considerations of Houston’s unique geography, sustainable methods of site development, innovative and ancient building technologies, vernacular precedents, and the socio-psychological impact of architecture upon society. Eventually, this inquiry became a master planning proposal endeavoring to coalesce these challenges that architecture endeavors to solve and solutions that architecture contributes. It is a balance between respecting the dignity of material nature and elevating the dignity of spiritual nature.
Residence Illustrations
Illustrations are generated from detailed construction drawings to visually represent abstract development and planning concepts, reflecting a socially and ecologically engaged community.
Programming Diagrams
Development: Integrative Development Strategies
Planning: Social Unitization and Organic Sectorization
Culture: Physiological and Psychological Wellness of the Community
Site Analysis Diagrams
Water Table Typology
Circulation Typology
Soil Typology
Land Use Typology
Flood Plain Mapping
Circulation Typology
Fluid Mapping Simulation
Natural ventilation as a passive cooling strategy is appropriate for this climate. Fluid mapping is a physical simulation method that uses water to simulate airflow through models of plans and building sections. This study tests building and vegetation density and spacing, as well as building sections, both individually and collectively.
Climate Analysis
Sustainable strategies are often custom to a particular climate. Houston is located in a subtropical climate zone and a natural curiosity initiates an investigation into vernacular building types located around the globe that are optimally adapted to the same climate zone. Therefore, the traditional Japanese house becomes an inspiration for these strategies as well as other aspects of the buildings for this community.
Structural Diagrams
Traditional Japanese methods of building construction underlie and symbolize the architectural approach in various ways. The detailed and robust structural systems represent what the architectural concepts seek to instill: the spiritual strength of the residents. Careful craftsmanship in the structural systems translates into careful craftsmanship in every detail of concept and construction.