“Forwarding Dallas” has been selected as the final winner of the Re: Vision Dallas competition.  The following resources and brief description of Forwarding Dallas has been organized for researchers, news media and community interests.

Press Release: http://www.revision-dallas.com/?p=757 

Mayor’s Welcome: http://www.revision-dallas.com/?p=380

Developing Firms: Atelier Data & MOOV (Lisbon, Portugal)

Authors: António Louro (MOOV), Filipe Vogt (Atelier Data), Marta Frazão (Atelier Data)

Collaborators: André Almeida (Atelier Data), Carolina Pombo (Atelier Data), Inês Vicente (Atelier Data), José Niza (MOOV), João Calhau (MOOV)

Landscape architecture: Susana Rodrigues

Energy efficiency and resources: Maria João Rodrigues, João Parente
Concept

Communication: João Rato

Forwarding Dallas Features:

• Heavy utilization of native vegetation
• Open ‘green’ spaces including wooded paths and interior courtyards as well as green roof prairies and orchards
• 100% prefabricated construction system, integrating building materials from local sources
• Housing options from studio apartments to three bedroom flats fit to accommodate approximately 854 residents
• Combination of photovoltaic (solar) and wind power which will providing 100% of the energy needed for each resident
• A Southwest façade set up for solar gain in a venetian-blind-like system which adjusts according to the season
• A Northeast façade made from prefabricated, thick, high thermal mass straw bales provides added insulation
• Rooftop water catchment system designed to recycle water collected from rooftops and store underground for later use
• Public green houses, including a sensorial greenhouse, swimming pool green house and meeting point green house
• Water permeable paved areas to prevent pooling and flooding

Images:

• Quick download (2 high res, 2 web res images + narrative brief): DOWNLOAD ZIP FILE (5MB)
• Large download (6 frames including art and process diagrams): DOWNLOAD PDF FILE (14MB)

Interviews:

Urban Re:Vision’s media team will gladly make introductions for interview (subject to availability) with the following:

• António Louro
  Lead Architect/MOOV
• Brent Brown
  Founder/bcWORKSHOP (Dallas)
• Eric Corey Freed
  Executive Director/Urban Re:Vision
• Filipe Vogt
  Lead Architect/Atelier Data
• John Greenan
  Executive Director/Central Dallas CDC
• Stacey Frost
  Founder/Urban Re:Vision

Common questions:

Q Is this a City project?
A No. While the City of Dallas supports and encourages Re:Vision Dallas, it is lead by three nonprofit organizations:

1.  
   1. Urban Re:Vision
   2. Central Dallas CDC
   3. bcWorkshop

Q Will it be built?
A Yes. The following links may help those following this project to understand the timing, financing and players behind this project:

1. Feature article from Dallas Observer, “Are the Plans To Build A Green, Sustainable Building of Tomorrow Smack in the Heart of Downtown Dallas Some Pipedream or A Reality?”
http://www.dallasobserver.com/2009-10-01/news/are-the-plans-to-build-a-green-sustainable-building-of-tomorrow-smack-in-the-heart-of-downtown-dallas-some-pipedream-or-a-reality/

2. Answer to article by John Greenan, Exec. Director of Central Dallas CDC:
http://citywalktalk.blogspot.com/2009/10/eat-this-building.html

Contact:

Ian Bryan, Media Relations Director: 828.242.1868 / ianbryan@sensiblecity.com

Dallas Morning News Q&A with Brent Brown, Dallas architect and founder of Building Community Workshop.

Q: Why are you going to be at Dallas City Hall on Dec. 5?

At BC Workshop, we were successful in convincing San Francisco-based Urban:Revision to choose Dallas as the site of an International Design Competition. The goal is to create the first fully sustainable block downtown – and by sustainable, I mean a place that is socially, economically and environmentally healthy. We’ll take the first step in that effort Thursday, when design and urban planners, policy experts, transportation engineers and economic gurus from across the country will convene. We’re going to create an urban framework that will be used during the design competition, which launches in January. By May, we hope to unveil the initial designs with Central Dallas Community Development Corp. as the prime developer. They have been instrumental in securing the site and advocating for this process.

Q: What pieces do you see missing in plans to revitalize the city’s core and southern Dallas?

Education and housing. I think we underestimate the impact public education at all levels has on a city and with the changing economics of living. People cannot continue to commute, especially those of lower incomes. So, we have to build mixed-income neighborhoods – where families can work and live – and the city government has to lead the effort.

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