botanical research institute of texas by balmori associates
all images courtesy balmori associates

construction has begun on the 48 million USD, 69 000 square foot facility for
the botanical research institute of texas, an international cultural and scientific center
for conservation.

in may 2005 the botanical research institute of texas commisioned american firm
balmori associates to design a working landscape for their new facilities in fort worth,
texas.

in their design they incorporated the adjacent fort worth botanic garden parking lot to
serve both institutions. taking on a central and unifying role, the parking lot will be
more than an asphalt desert. the parking system gathers, filters and reuses rain water
on site, provides shade under the canopy of species native to north central texas and operates
as an open air botanical laboratory. the site is laid out in spines of research fields, rain
gardens and braided pathways so that the parking experience is transformed into a walk
through research field along a tree shaded and richly planted environment.


aerial view


the various pathways











living facade


living facade


living facade


living facade


site plan