Cafe Menil
Houston, Texas
Rice Building Workshop
Role: Design and Project Team
Unbuilt, 2011
Rice Building Workshop
Role: Design and Project Team
Unbuilt, 2011
As a design team we were mindful of the Menil campus. The Menil Collection, designed by Renzo piano, sits perfectly into the existing neighborhood context, and has a strong presence, but through its restrained beauty rather than boldness. Balancing this fine line was one of the most challenging parts of designing the cafe.
This site is a 50-foot by 64-foot portion of land located directly north of the existing Menil Bookstore, literally in its backyard. This site lies directly south of the existing surface parking lot, currently enclosed by a privacy fence on the north and east sides. The Aurora Picture Show, a non-profit center for film, video and new media, now occupies the bungalow to the west. The large existing trees in the area are also an important part of the atmosphere of the Menil campus.
Digital Rendering
Site Plan
Site Plan
Building Plan
Physical Model
Physical Model
Interior Rendering
Interior Rendering
Perspective Rendering
Exterior Rendering
Elevation Drawings
Elevation Drawings
Section Drawings
Section Drawings
Wall Section
