ELINA CHEN

Using water as an active medium, this studio—Surface Tension—explores the frictions that often shape the design of an architectural project: between surface and substrate, inside and outside, public and private, land and water. Pools are conceived as site-specific interfaces that mediate between people and their surroundings, while also participating in a broader conversation about social life and urban generosity in Houston.

In the final project, folding surfaces define conditions of dryness and wetness, along with the spatial programs associated with each. A large pool at ground level transitions from deep water into a gentle sloped area for rest, before rising into a smaller, shallower upper-level pool. Two interior courtyards fold down from the ground plane, diffusing circulation throughout the project. The introduction of a sunken screening room beneath the upper pool extends the public natatorium beyond a place for swimming, transforming it into a community center where people can gather to watch films and share collective experiences.