Designing for the post-Harvey future
Houston is renowned for its great feats of innovative engineering, from the dredging of the ship channel to the building of the Eighth Wonder of the World, the Astrodome. Although we have never been known as a city that embraced planning, Harvey was a true game-changer. In the immediate aftermath, the city was focused on emergency response — clearing the roads, managing safe evacuations, operating shelters for flood victims. Now, we are looking to our partners at the state and federal government for funding and assistance to repair and rebuild our city.
As we move forward, we need to think long-term about how to make our region more resilient for the next storm. I am encouraged by the conversations happening at the community level as well as at the city, with Chief Recovery Officer Marvin Odum on the job. One point has resonated throughout these discussions: Houston must begin to do things differently if we want a better future.
How do we do this? As a citizen-architect, I want to help our city tap the best minds and ideas to design for a better future. Plans are underway for an international design competition to be called “Houston 2020 Visions,” in collaboration with the American Institute of Architects Houston chapter. The competition will solicit creative and sustainable ideas for rebuilding our city through a “Request for Visions” or RFV, and the best ideas will be exhibited at the AIA Houston office when the competition is complete in the spring of 2020.
We are looking for all kinds of visions to make Houston more resilient, from the micro level (tweaks to our municipal code and permitting process) to the macro level (largescale public works projects such as a third reservoir or coastal spine). The subject matter might range
Houston has found itself at a historic crossroads after Hurricane Harvey, and we need the best visions and ideas as the city’s leadership considers how to move forward and rebuild.
from retrofitting existing buildings to beautifying retention ponds for recreational use. One component of the design competition will be a housing charrette in collaboration with the city’s Housing and Community Development Department. Overall, the goal is to center design and sustainability at the heart of our conversations about planning for a more resilient future.
Houston has found itself at a historic crossroads after Hurricane Harvey, and we need the best visions and ideas as the city’s leadership considers how to move forward and rebuild. Mayor Turner has been adamant about not “funding for failure.” As we anticipate recovery funds coming down from the state and federal government, we need to be ready with creative and innovative ideas for how to rebuild a better city — one that protects the health and wellbeing of people, grows sustainably and supports a strong economy. What is the best city that Houston can be? If not a city on a hill, at least one that is above the floodplain.
Robinson serves on Houston City Council in the At-Large 2 Position and is a licensed architect.