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ENCOUNTER: Meeting Points on
Buffalo Bayou

 


At six sites along the East Sector of Buffalo Bayou, student teams designed and fabricated site-specific installations and engagement strategies that focused on the connective, inclusive, and authentic nature of Buffalo Bayou’s downtown and east sectors. The installations culminated in a public event which brought an awareness of the sites to Houstonians and sought their feedback for future park restorations.

Working within time and budget constraints, the Yolanda Black Navarro Buffalo Bend Nature Park team devised multiple interactives aimed to inspire and create newfound perspectives for the ecological and industrial past of the park. Materials were limited to repurposed industrial objects such as oil barrels and commercial wire spools, which were respectively transformed into viewing frames and a lively communal gathering area. A key focus of the experience was the inclusion of a bilingual narrative that reinforced the importance of the park’s preservation for all demographics in the surrounding community.

This project was in collaboration with: Buffalo Bayou Partnership, Valentina Gutierrez, Miguel Guerrero, Kevin Marroquin, Amira Maruf, and University of Houston Creative Writing students. It recently won an Honor Award for Public Installation with The Society for Experiential Graphic Design (SEGD), read more about the award here–>.

 

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PROJECT SITE

Buffalo Bend Nature Park was named after Yolanda Black Navarro with the purpose of offering residents an opportunity to learn about the ecological and historic roots of their neighborhood’s developmental connection to Buffalo Bayou. The vast wetland ecosystem provides economic and socio-ecological value to residents of Magnolia Park.

Located at:
2300 S Sgt Macario Garcia Dr
Houston, TX 77011

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EVENT INTERACTIONS

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SITE INSTALLATIONS

Observation Frames
Framing devices layer imagery relating to economy, industry, and ecology to connect residents to Buffalo Bend. Methods such as reflection, filtration, and superimposition are applied to the frames to engage visitors in an observation based experience.

Community Table
The table activates the pavilion as a safe haven for visitors to rest or take a moment away from the trails to observe the park from afar. It allows for moments of personal reflection while also creating a space for community gatherings.

Park Cistern
The cistern is a space where  visitors begin their experience of Buffalo Bend. It is a beacon that draws people to the park and an invitation to the neighborhood to connect with the park in their own backyard.

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© 2019 Esalee Andrade-Guerrero