balmori associates: botanical research institute of texas

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