Ecological and Spiritual Pluralism
In 2019, NBW was awarded the commission to design an eleven-acre landscape for the first Ismaili Center in the United States, located in Houston, Texas. Now nearing completion, the Center will be the seventh such space envisioned for cross-cultural exchange, civic engagement, and spiritual reflection. Advancing the Ismaili community’s mission of pluralism and public understanding, the Center is designed as a welcoming place for dialogue among communities locally and globally. The Center is the latest of seven worldwide all built and run by the Aga Khan Foundation and the first in the United States. The Center is located at the intersection of Montrose Boulevard and Allen Parkway, west of Downtown and adjacent to Buffalo Bayou — a site that aligns with the Islamic architectural tradition of placing significant structures near, or integrating them within, bodies of water. NBW guided the siting of the building, designed by Farshid Moussavi Architects, to be at the site’s highest point, enhancing the pedestrian experience from the street and increasing flood resilience.
Through a process of examining the specific qualities of the site, such as topography, hydrology, and solar aspect, and of drawing a parallel to relevant ecosystems across Texas, the landscape design for the Ismaili Center Houston speaks to the adaptability of the Islamic landscape tradition. Each garden terrace is planted according to its position relative to the overall garden complex to reflect specific regional ecosystems. Constructed elements, including reflection pools, intimate gardens, and formal terraces, draw inspiration from the Islamic precedents in Persian gardens, landscapes, and architecture. This hybrid design approach reflects the adaptability of the Ismaili tradition to new climates and regions of the world, imbues the design with a rich tradition, and sets the stage for a landscape of open multicultural dialogue between the Ismaili community, Houstonians, and visitors.
Islamic Garden symbolism is woven throughout the design. Both the constructed site elements and the locations of trees were designed on a five-foot grid, referencing the Five Pillars of Islam. Four primary courtyards around the center and nine additional garden spaces each feature distinct planting palettes and paving designs — an expression of the Ismaili principle of unity in diversity and diversity in unity.
The fusion of ecological specificity and cultural precedent reflects the Ismaili tradition’s adaptability to diverse geographies while offering a contemporary interpretation of sacred landscape.
