Frame, a project assembled by the Gulf Coast Design Lab, makes its home in Galveston, Texas, amongst acres of coastal land, bordering both bodies of water, and residential areas.

Working in conjunction with Artist Boat, a coastal preservation non-profit, and with Gulf Coast Design Lab, this pavilion was designed and constructed to present many disenfranchised children access to nature, while simultaneously bringing awareness to impact climate change is having on coastal lands globally.

Faced with rising water levels, invasive species, and changing temperatures impacting the flora and fauna on their coastal lands, Artist Boat sought to create a learning pavilion on the acres of the coastal land which they maintain.

The pavilion is used as a rest stop for workshops held by Artist Boat for children from the lower income, inner city areas of Houston.

By addressing several issues, including material selection in a coastal area, structural requirements of hurricane zones, construction schedules, modularity of furniture, creating an outdoor classroom with flexible “indoor” arrangements, and more, Gulf Coast Design Lab engaged in all levels of a project, from Schematic Design, to finishing the construction of this pavilion, over the course of five months.