Baldridge Landscape in collaboration with Dillon Kyle Architecture produced the parking area for the Meredith Long Gallery. The gallery sits on busy San Felipe Street in Houston, Texas.

The design intent was to evoke delight and begin the art gallery experience upon arrival to the site. The available space was very limiting which presented a design challenge; how to create a green space and provide maximum parking bays. The need for covered parking led to the parking structure. The need for a green space resulted in a merger of both, which was achieved by wrapping the structure in a photograph of azalea leaves. The structure feels like a huge topiary form which provides utility and a sense of folly all at once. The very traditional planting palette of Boston Ivy, single trunk Natchez Crape Myrtles and Elaeagnus provides a green outline to the architecture. The windows on the facade of the building serve as vitrines for the revolving collections. Boston Ivy was planted on the exterior facade resulting in a lovely green frame around each of the paintings.

The end result is a utile and happy space that can be used for parking and gallery functions, while providing an unexpected wink to the passersby. Please click here to see our process and to learn more about the transformation. 

Photos Courtesy of Casey Dunn.