Rodeo Lagoon — California | Fall 2023
The Research Hub at Rodeo Lagoon emerges from the meeting of architecture and ecology. Elevated above the terrain, the structure follows the lagoon’s contours to minimize environmental disturbance while framing shifting views of water, vegetation, and sky.
The project is organized around three zones—research, gathering, and rest—each interwoven through open decks and circulation paths that encourage collaboration and reflection. Laboratories and communal spaces open directly to the landscape, promoting exchange between scientists and visitors alike.
A woven façade of locally sourced Coast Redwood defines the building’s identity. The redwood slats are crafted into a layered screen that filters light, wind, and views, casting a dynamic play of shadows throughout the day. Over time, the material will weather naturally to a soft silvery tone, allowing the building to age gracefully within its coastal environment.
Locally harvested materials and passive systems—natural ventilation, daylighting, and orientation—reinforce the project’s ecological ethos. The Research Hub at Rodeo Lagoon embodies an architecture of coexistence: one that learns from its site, sustains its ecosystem, and transforms research into a lived experience.
“Built not to mark the land, but to remember it.”
Site Integration
Elevated platforms trace the natural slope of Rodeo Lagoon, minimizing ground impact and connecting to the surrounding ecosystem.
Facade and Light
A woven façade of Coast Redwood filters sunlight and air, creating a breathable surface that responds to the coastal climate and evolves over time.
Interior Atmosphere
Soft light filters through the screen façade, creating warm, open interiors that balance focus and rest.
Plans and Sections
Spatial organization follows the site’s contours, linking laboratories, communal areas, and rest spaces through a continuous elevated path.
Final Model
The physical model captures the project’s topographic integration and light, open structure. Elevated decks, layered elements, and shaded interior volumes illustrate how the building engages with the slope and harnesses natural light and ventilation to support ecological research and community interaction.