The author has chosen to layout sheets beginning with a higher density of diagrams on opening sheets followed by larger rendered images on later sheets. Though it is generally balanced by pages, there does not seem to be an overarching organizational system applied to all pages, which is always recommended for consistency and ease of reading by the jury. The color palette is also quite varied with use of purple, gray, orange and black headlines and images generally colored in yellow, orange and green tones. To further balance the sheets for consistency the author might consider finding a constant grid to apply to all sheets, even if the sizes and content of images vary. The text uses bold headlines which provide a strong hierarchy and readability to the major conceptual points of the project. However the font and text size do not aid in the communication of the project. It is recommended that the author reduce the amount of text, and find consistency in the horizontal dimension of the text columns, as the variation causes some challenges in reading. The use of all caps in this particular font also does not help the jury read the project easily. The renderings on sheets 3 and 4 would benefit from some basic annotation and descriptions. The sheets appear unfinished and unless the jury already has a clear understanding of the project, it is unclear how the project is organized and what one is looking at. The final aerial image in particular would be aided greatly by some additional text details. The submission has a good level of hierarchy in terms of details within imagery. As jurors always review a strong project more than once, it helps that upon deeper reading, one learns more about this project.
Reimagine senior living spaces
Jury feedback summary
The jurors felt that this entry had the most sophisticated reading of the existing neighborhood context as well as a deep understanding of the neighborhood needs. The proposal was both a light touch and a radical reimagining of what is possible with adaptively reusing industrial structures. The jurors appreciated the inclusion of a “Memorial Wall” that connected to the adjacent historical cemetery for African Americans. The concept was also quite open ended, suggesting a degree of flexibility for the development process as opposed to a rigid masterplan. The project’s collage resonated with the radical visions of Archigram’s Instant City, as it suggested an almost guerilla do-it-yourself approach to urban cultural development. The jury also appreciated the gesture toward Buffalo Bayou and the site’s relationship to downtown, suggesting a sensitivity to urban context as well as positing a vision of the future that is multi-modally connective.