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West 8 www.west8.com

Houston Botanic Garden

By 07-10-2020

West 8 has transformed a golf course on an island in the Houston Delta into the first botanical garden of the Texan capital. In the weekend of 18 September, the first phase of what will be a total of 54 hectares open-air museum for trees and plants opened. The island, together with a plot of land across the river ‘Sims Bayou’, has been transformed into a green oasis in which discovering and experiencing the beauty and properties of trees, plants and flowers are central issues. The garden displays a collection of tropical, subtropical and drought resistant plants from all over the world that collectively reflect Texas’ biodiversity.

The task was not only to create an iconic design with thematic gardens, but also to work the soil and the water management in such a way that the subsoil became suitable for planting a botanical collection. The Masterplan of West 8 takes advantage of the possibilities offered by the site due to its unique location on the river, and enhances its existing natural qualities. This resulted in a robust, well-structured surface on which an exuberant cross section of plants and trees can grow.

Photos: Barrett Doherty