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DETAILS

LocationChappell Hill, Texas, United States of America
ClientHouston Zen Center
SERVICE:
Size40 Acres

An hour Northwest of Houston, a 40-acre site with remnants of 1960s experimental architecture is the backdrop for Houston Zen Center’s new Auspicious Cloud Zen Retreat Center, merging Zen practice with Blackland Prairie restoration.

Throughout, the SWA-led plan weaves new and existing buildings into a unified spine. Two ensō-shaped housing clusters for up to 56 guests are oriented for passive cooling and natural ventilation, anchored by raised decks and sunken gardens. A new welcome building and a reconfigured dormitory incorporate geothermal heat pumps and solar arrays, while targeted modifications to existing structures improve access and pedestrian flow.

Controlled burns, native grass planting, and invasive species removal support prairie restoration, enhancing the site’s overall pollinator habitat and carbon sequestration capacity.

SWA is also involved in renovations to the Center’s two Houston Heights properties, which include added units and redefined entryways, aligning both urban and rural sites under a shared mission of ecological and spiritual renewal.

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