The Wall and the Void

Year: 2020

Site: Montrose District, Houston, Texas

In developing a sequence of spaces to accommodate the activities of a health spa and meditation center in the Montrose District of Houston, Texas, design choices were centered around the playful properties of thickness, void, and threshold on either side of a wall. Each of these factors contributes to the quality and performance of natural light, guided by moments of direct and indirect exposure. To take advantage of the variations in character of each space throughout a day, the program is extended to serve schoolchildren during normal work hours, when adult activity is lower. As a result of early childhood exposure to the benefits of physical wellness and meditation, the project, in effect, promotes a lasting practice of mindfulness to future generations.