Re:Vision Dallas is a revolutionary initiative to create the prototype for an innovative, sustainable urban community. ECOBLOCK.COMUNITY is the urban prototype proposed by the New York City based Architecture firm ODA.

The EcoBlock is a cooperative organization that is intended to be a model for future growth in downtown Dallas Texas. The heart of the EcoBlock is the community. The ownership structure allows residents an opportunity to have a vested interest in the growth of the project. The goal of the project is to promote a healthy way of living within the course urban setting of the city.

ODA’s inspiration is drawn from understanding simple elements of the earth: water, sun, and wind. Basic ideas are incorporated into the project such as the collection and controlling of water for agriculture as constructed by Leonardo daVinci in Italian hill towns and the terraced rice fields in the mountains of China. Dwellings are centered among orchards and fields where trees are grown for agricultural use and provide fresh air and comfort from the hot Texas sun.

Energy is collected through the use of available technology that is complemented and enhanced by carefully positioning the building on the site with sun orientation and wind direction in mind.

The resultant shape of the block is derived from the simple act of carving. Beginning with a typical urban block, the microclimate and context erode the building block into its unique form that captures the essential aspects of the project: community and self sufficiency.

A challenge for creating an environment for healthy living is one that encourages an inseparable relationship between the indoors and the outdoors. Natural light and air as well as water act as the organizational compass for the building complex. The residential dwellings are stitched together on stepped roofs with private and public gardens to maximize the light, air, and views. Each dwelling has two terraces, one private and one belonging to the coop for agriculture harvesting. A gravity fed water channel collects rainwater and recirculated/treated greywater from the building and provides water for agriculture.

Vertical agricultural walls are located on the south and west facades. The agricultural walls provide a green buffer to the city as well as provides sun, wind, and dust protection. A water channel that uses treated grey building water and collected rainwater will provide irrigation. A vertical vineyard wall is located on the north façade.

The harvest from agricultural walls and roof terraces are collected and transported down to a central processing facility which is owned by the coop. The fresh produce is vertically distributed down to the supermarket and the outdoor farmers market.