Flow

Jennifer Luna, Elizabeth Ramos, Fernando Mata, Nancy Gonzalez
Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design, University of Houston

“The project positions hydrology as the primary design driver, transforming water management into spatial experience. The proposal reframes resilience as an active public condition, making ecological processes visible and accessible while strengthening the relationship between people and the landscape.”  

—Zeinab Maghdouri

Spread across Burnet Bay and extending to the mouth of the San Jacinto River, this Gaia device incorporates the area’s first 100 residents into its design while addressing concerns over increasing salinity. The system serves as a place for observation and a way to increase the flow of freshwater into the bay, helping maintain the balance of its brackish water and supporting diverse ecological habitats. Three large water wheels move freshwater downstream into the bay, creating a continuous flow. The first is powered by human effort, while the other two operate independently using the incoming current. The intervention merges architecture with nature, regulating an ecosystem dependent on both fresh and salt water while avoiding the environmental impact of heavy industrial machinery.