Groesbeck Martin Luther King Jr. Community Garden

Design Team

M.S. Industrial DesignLead DesignerMark T. Williams

M.A. ArchitectureFatayi-Williams Oluseyi H.

M.S. Industrial Design Nelson Smith

B.S. Interior ArchitectureVy Truong

B.S. Interior ArchitectureSilvia Martinez

B.S. Industrial DesignAdam Gilleland

Bringing togethera diverse interdisciplinaryteam of students to design for an idea ofunity and collaboration.

“Life's most persistent and urgent question is,‘What are you doing for others?’”

- Martin Luther King Jr.

Project Outline

ORIGINS

The Groesbeck MLK Community Garden Project was born of a belief in unity and coexistence. The coexistence of Man & Nature, Unity of Man & Man regardless of race, the Unity of Education & Environment and Coexistence of Community & Nature. The unity and coexistence of all things that man comes into contact with, will be embodied by the MLK Community Garden.

COLLABORATION

With this in mind the students of The University of Houston’s Industrial Design Department with the collaboration of the Architecture and Interior Architecture departments of the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design are working with the Citizens and Businessesof Groesbeck Texas to design a 3-acre garden on land donated by Groesbeck Independent School District.

SPACESThis garden will consist of public and private spaces for educational and community events such as a Farmers Market and educational activities. The Architectural components designed by Masters Students of Industrial Design and Architecture will be used for events and classes providing division of space while also housing growing systems and locations for various plants. The systems and components of both indoor and outdoor will be adaptations of Aqua-ponics and Hydroponics systems to aid in the education of Groesbeck ISD’s Agricultural and Horticultural students.

MATERIALS

The key material to be utilized through out the garden will be the City’s signature Red Brick, accented by the addition of various plant life, water features, steel, and glass. The key design considerations being Unity, Nature, Education, Community and Culture.

The Site

AERIAL VIEW

The original 12 acre lot sits in an ideal location amongst the Groesbeck community. The proximity to the historic downtown area offers a possibility for the garden to become part of the town’s main attractions. The central location of the garden site gives it equal access to all three schools and to the rest of the community.

TOPOGRAPHY

The proximity of the garden site to the town’s small basin gives way to an opportunity for irrigation practices. Via this resource, the garden’s maintenance would be facilitated, while offering the community and the students an opportunity to better understand sustainable methods of irrigation and farming.

MAIN ROADS

The town of Groesbeck is cut perpendicularly by highly transited roads. The north to south axis (TX 164) is paralleled by a railroad line that is in constant operation. The traversing avenues give Groesbeck the possibility of using the garden as more than just an educational/pleasure venue, but as a way of attracting visitors as well.

MLK GARDEN SITE

The proposed garden site will be 3 acres within the original 12 acre lot that was donated by GISD. The site’s closeness to the periphery of the town allows for it to keep its organic nature within the ordered structure of the town, offering the citizens of Groesbeck a chance to experience nature in the comfort of the vicinity.

Analysis

3 ACRE SITE

- Adjacent to railroad- Adjacent to highly trafficked road

on one side.- Surrounded by residential property- Open, natural area

Noise

SurroundingProgram

Foliage

Accessibility

The Design

Inspiration

Key Influences

- Needed different activity zones (farmer’s market, garden space, play zones, educational space)

- Must accommodate existing ditch into design due to natural water collection- Ditch becomes an opportunity for experience and acts as an activity divider - Public activity is oriented towards high traffic zones- Site calls for a linear experience open to nature- Surrounding foliage is accepted as part of the landscape - Parking is allocated on the N Railroad St. side so as to not cause parking

congestion on surrounding narrow streets- Landscape features and plants are used as buffers and walls to create privacy

Materials: Nature & Man

- Plants: Fruit trees, flowers, vegetation, donated and maintained by members of the Groesbeck community.

- Water: Nourishment for plants and a place for fish to dwell. Water bringssoothing movement and a place for reflection.

- Red Brick: Groesbeck Reds, connection to town’s identity - Glass: Material shows openness and transparency, creating a sense of unity

throughout, visitors can learn from both exterior and interior.- Steel: Structural element; used to connect the garden to the newer

construction of Groesbeck.

Covered Walkway

Garden Entrance

Park Space

Main Garden Space (Proposal)

Terraced Planting & Farming (Proposal)

Garden Furniture

Building Perspective

Building Interior & Hydroculture Areas

Aquaponics Systems

Hydroponics Systems

Aquaponics & Hydroponic System Benefits

“Property is intended to serve life, and no matter how much we surround It with rights and respect, it has no personal being. It is part of the EarthMan walks on. It is not man.”

- Martin Luther King Jr.