Mesocosms

The project investigates the ecological, industrial, and climatic challenges specific to Galveston Bay, including plastic pollution, land erosion, industrial impact, and tidal rise, while proposing a hybrid architecture that fosters ecological restoration and public engagement through recycling infrastructure. The central concept is to transform the site from a point of ecological tension into a generator of biodiversity and education. By rethinking waste as a material resource and acknowledging the presence of multiple, overlapping ecosystems, the project proposes a Recycling and Meso-Ecology Center where plastic waste is collected, processed, and reused to create pods—architectural and ecological modules that serve as anchors for new habitats. These “pods” or mesocosms cultivate various biomes—marshes, marine zones, and wildflower gardens—while educating visitors about sustainability, the environmental impact of plastic, and the role of native flora and fauna.