Onion Creek

This project reflects a collaboration with the Austin Parks Foundation, the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department, and landscape architects TBG Partners. Our role on the team was to provide schematic design for restrooms and picnic pavilions for an all-abilities playground. The design centers around fostering moments of connection and providing spaces of comfort, ensuring that every park user, regardless of ability, feels safe, welcome, and at ease. The entire project is a testament to universal design principles, making all elements accessible and enjoyable for individuals with diverse abilities.

We developed two distinct form languages for the restroom and pavilion structures. The first utilizes timber frame construction to create simple, organic shade structures. These can be used individually or grouped to form larger spaces, with shapes that evoke natural elements like leaves or insect wings. The second form is inspired by mushrooms, featuring rounded masonry walls and playful steel shade canopies.

Both designs draw from the concepts of animal habitats and incorporate natural materials, allowing the structures to blend seamlessly into the landscape. Our restrooms and pavilions mimic the natural habitats that creatures might inhabit and allows users to imagine themselves at the scale of one of those creatures.