Urban Forest in East Austin

Expand view for photograph In this realistic rendering, a group of children play on a grassy courtyard surrounded by modern wooden buildings and trees, with sunlight filtering through the leaves. An adult stands nearby, and others sit on the grass and stairs, creating a lively atmosphere.

Expand view for photograph Architectural diagram showing 1900s house typology with reference photos, 3D exterior views, roof plan, exploded axonometric drawings of ventilation and structure, and annotated airflow and space illustrations.

Expand view for photograph Aerial digitally illustrated view of a modern residential complex with wooden buildings, green roofs, and abundant trees, surrounded by streets and other houses, highlighting sustainable urban design.

Expand view for photograph Isometric architectural diagrams showing two wooden building sections; the smaller one features separate rooms, while the larger section reveals interior staircases, multiple floors, and open spaces, illustrating spatial analysis.

Expand view for photograph Isometric architectural diagram showing three segmented wooden structures with stairs, open walls, and overlapping beams; top-down floor plans are displayed on the right side of the image.

Expand view for photograph Isometric view of a building massing model showing unit distribution with colored blocks: pink for microsuites, yellow for 1-bedroom, blue for 2-bedroom, and purple for 3-bedroom units. Legend is at the bottom left.

Expand view for photograph 3D rendering of a modern microunit home with large windows, shown alongside floor plans for two levels. Details list 5 units, 350 sq ft, 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom. Palm leaf graphics appear behind the floor plans.

Expand view for photograph Design board featuring a 3D wooden model of a 1-bedroom apartment with labeled rooms, shown next to a black and white floor plan and a site plan with shaded green outdoor areas. An inset shows the units position on the property.

Expand view for photograph 3D isometric view of a two-bedroom apartment layout, alongside first and second floor plans, and a small site context diagram. The design shows labeled spaces and highlights bedrooms, bathrooms, and living areas.

Expand view for photograph Design board featuring a 3D wooden architectural model of a two-story, 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home with floor plans for the 1st and 2nd floors on the right, and a site map of 4 units at the bottom left. Total area is 803 sq ft.

Expand view for photograph Architectural section drawing of a modern, multi-level wooden building with large windows, interior staircases, greenery and trees integrated throughout, and people depicted inside and outside the structure.

Expand view for photograph A heat map of a neighborhood shows streets, houses, and trees in red, yellow, and green colors, indicating varying temperature or activity levels across the area. The label HEAT MAP appears in the upper left corner.

Expand view for photograph Digital rendering of a cozy, sunlit living room with wooden walls, a white sofa, and a round coffee table. A person sits by a large window reading, with trees visible outside. A bedroom and open shelving are also in view.

Expand view for photograph In this realistic rendering, three people hang out in a modern, sunlit outdoor patio with grass, a tree, and wooden walls. One person stands while two sit by a round table, all engaged in conversation. Shadows and greenery create a relaxed atmosphere.

Expand view for photograph A close-up view of a modern architectural scale model featuring white geometric structures, clear elements resembling windows or pools, and small artificial plants, all set on a light wooden base.

Expand view for photograph A top-down view of an architectural model on a rectangular board, featuring various white geometric structures connected across a brown surface with circular outlines, set on a wood-textured floor.

Expand view for photograph A minimalist architectural model featuring stacked white block structures with visible staircases and small plant elements, displayed on a wooden base against a plain, light background.

This project offers a proposal for how to approach the oncoming densification of East Austin, including urban forest and an economic strategy to help bridge the transition between commercial and residential sectors surrounding the site. This series of residencies looks to engage passive systems of cooling as well as the social implications of the porch as circulation. A variety of units house different sizes of families and accommodate spaces for communal gathering through a series of courtyard-esque spaces formed around pre-existing trees on the site and verandas. Green “pots” of trees create shared spaces between units and lessen any imposing nature of the building’s verticality over existing homes. The overall building is conscious of the area while creating a unique space to live and a nature-oriented space for locals to gather and socialize.

2023-2024 Design Excellence Award Winner

Caroline Shifflett
Design IV Studio
Instructor: Rasa Navasaityte

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