BAT HOUSE VISITOR CENTER

The Bat House Visitor Center and respective bat houses are designed as a fully-integrated, sustainable system. A singular structure allows both programs to support one another.

To offset the rigid prefabricated wood frames of the overall structure, the playful notion of folded “origami” plates provide an effective enclosure for bat chambers as well as suitable landing areas. The main structure of the bat house is based on the post or “rocket-bat house” typology which has proven to be a successful alternative to traditional layered plate houses. Incremental units based on a 4” x 4” grid, with sharp angles and roughened surfaces, house several bat colonies while also acting as cross bracing members for the main space frame structure.

The outer folded skin enclosing the bat chambers provides effective darkness and protection for bat dwelling and roosting, while the red external color optimizes visibility for spectators in a synergistic structure for bats and humans.

Location: Prototype (Test-case in Austin, Texas) | Phase: Conceptual / Un-buit | Architecture Team: Matt Fajkus, Bo Yoon, Jesse Rodriguez

Awards

AIA Austin Merit Award Winner, Unbuilt Category, 2012

AIA National Emerging Professionals Exhibition, Washington, DC., 2012

d3 Unbuit Visions, International Special Mention, 2012

Texas Society of Architects Studio Awards Winner, 2011

Exhibits

Unbuilt Visions Exhibit, University of Louisiana, 2013

Austin Center for Architecture, 2012-2013

Systematic Environmental Formalism Exhibit, Goldsmith Hall, University of Texas, 2012

More Than Architecture Exhibit, Fine Arts Building, University of Texas, 2011, 2012

Austin AIA Design Awards Winners Exhibit, 2012