50 years in the making, East Blocks envisions a new mixed-use neighborhood spanning 10 blocks of EaDo near Downtown Houston—building. Located within an already diverse, eclectic, and walkable arts and entertainment district, the design celebrates the neighborhood’s history as an industrial hub.
East Blocks will be developed in a multiphase process over several years, beginning with a first phase of nearly half a million square feet, including a series of interconnected green spaces, retail and restaurant space, flexible office space, and more. Its first tenants include the existing 8th Wonder Brewery and Pitch 25.
Together with Gensler, SWA’s Houston studio has been working with the client and consultant team since 2022, developing an overarching landscape strategy for East Blocks that draws inspiration from the neighborhood’s industrial character, weaving together repurposed infrastructure and a native planting palette into a contemporary public landscape that feels authentically EaDo.
The existing promenade will be transformed into a flexibly programmed civic space that can accommodate picnics, farmer’s markets, fitness classes, children’s events, and more. The design improves district-wide mobility, bridging into bike and pedestrian paths that run from EaDo throughout the East End District.
Hangzhou Grand Canal
For centuries, the Beijing-Hangzhou’s Grand Canal – a staggering 1,000 linear miles which remain the world’s longest man-made waterway – was a lifeline for commerce and communication. The water’s edge was necessary for trade, a logical place to live, and often a driver of innovation. However, as with many waterfronts globally, it eventually fell victim to the...
Tata Eco City
At the crossroads of ecology and community, this master plan synergizes a unique blend of spaces that support active lifestyles and foster innovation and creativity. Tata Eco City Master Plan was been developed layer by layer, using a set of strategic design interventions to help ensure that the delicate balance between nature and the built environment is prot...
Nanhu New Country Village
China’s rapid urbanization over the past several decades has radically diminished its agricultural landscapes and labor force, focusing instead on industrial and technological advancements. The Nanhu New Country Village brings a contemporary approach to integrating agriculture and residences in a village setting, enhancing existing rural character, and improvi...
NOAH Ethnographic Village
Armenia has set an initiative to increase global tourism and develop a site within its capital city with majestic views of Mount Ararat, where Noah’s Ark is purported to have landed. SWA developed a strategic plan based on several principles derived from the existing context of the site: first, to capitalize its proximity to important landmarks that allow for ...