with Gary Strang, ASLA

The Beth Israel Memorial Chapel consists of a semi-enclosed sanctuary to accommodate three hundred people and a two and a half-acre site design. Included are a mausoleum, fountains, an arbor walk, landscaping and meditative courtyard spaces, shaded from Houston's heat and humidity. The semi-enclosed chapel is cooled by natural breezes and passive design techniques, while the entire project seeks to heighten awareness of the cycle of seasons and the tactility of nature, as a ceremonial respite from the sealed, air-conditioned environments of Houston.