THE VINYL MUSEUM

This project is deeply rooted in the cultural and historical context of Houston’s Third Ward, where movement, gathering, and memory shape the site strategy. Pedestrian pathways establish a direct connection to Emancipation Park, extending the city’s circulation into the site and reinforcing its role as a civic connector. A central plaza anchors the design, serving as a social heart that links the park, building, and surrounding neighborhood. Brick paving references the historic streets of Freedman’s Town, creating a tangible continuity between past and present, while permeable grasscrete surfaces support a porous, green, and communal landscape. Parking is positioned along the quieter street edge to preserve a calm, walkable pedestrian environment. Rising from the plaza, the building is constructed with a warm mass timber structure that offers acoustic softness and material warmth. Organized on a 20-foot by 20-foot grid, exposed glulam beams and CLT floors establish a clear spatial rhythm, balanced with selective dropped ceilings for mechanical systems. In the courtyard, timber extends outdoors, forming an intimate, multi-use retreat. A perforated copper façade wraps the building, inspired by musical rhythm and equalizer graphics, shifting in opacity with daylight. This copper language continues inside, unifying exterior and interior experiences. At the building’s core, vertical vinyl shelving organizes circulation, frames views, and anchors the program, supporting varied listening, gathering, and archival experiences across all three floors.