Houston’s East End is a bifurcated community, with heavy industry brushing up against a vibrant and culturally diverse residential area. Answering residents’ call for more park space, SWA created Buffalo Bayou Bend Nature Park by converting a formerly neglected industrial site into a wetland ecosystem and public green space.
Three interconnected ponds, hosting 10,000 carefully chosen native plants, create a natural filtration system for urban runoff. A solar-powered pump draws water from Buffalo Bayou into a repurposed concrete cistern, initiating its journey through these constructed habitats. As it meanders, the water is cleansed of bacteria, excess nutrients, and toxic materials before returning to its source. An interactive “Water Table” allows visitors to compare the quality of incoming and outgoing flows, making this complex ecological process tangible.
ADA-compliant crushed gravel paths wind through the wetlands, while a small hill formed from excavated material adds topographic interest and offers a vantage point for visitors. Recycled elements throughout pay tribute to the site’s industrial past.
As a node on a 10-mile regional trail network, Buffalo Bend Nature Park addresses the need for open space in this historically underserved area and serves as a model for ecological restoration and education.
Panyu Central Park
Panyu Central Park breaks the boundary of the traditional gated community and promotes sharing of open space among residents and visitors. This neighborhood development is the hub for a dense urban community, raising its visibility and value and setting a high standard for open space in the area. The park provides welcoming activity space for all ages with its...
Dubai Hills Boulevard and Public Realm
Envisioned as a garden oasis strategically situated where city meets desert, Dubai Hills will be a vibrant yet elegant mixed-use community for 21st-century living. The key public realm element of this massive 1,000-hectare development is a 5.6-kilometer urban boulevard lined with shops, residences, and offices along the district’s central spine. SWA/Balsley de...
SIPG Harbor City Parks
This new riverfront development is located on the Yangtze River in the Baoshan District of Shanghai. This area boasts some of the highest shipping activity in the world. However, in recent years this single-function industrial zone has given way, allowing for waterfront parks to develop. Within this historically layered water front the Baoshan Park and Open Sp...
Elk Grove Civic Center
SWA’s design for this community resource improves upon part of a 56-acre master plan with a civic center campus set within a beautiful park, and an added public outdoor commons. The pedestrian-friendly commons weaves new buildings together with mature trees and an outdoor living space linking together a community center, an aquatics center, and a future librar...