Jainish Radadia
Arch 4355
Stephen Fox
20 March 2017
The Hills at Hermann Park
Houston, being the fourth largest city in the United States is also the most populous city in the
state of Texas. Located in the American South, Houston is a diverse city with a large and
growing international community. Apart from being such a big city and hosting close to 2.2
million residents, Houston is also home to 337 parks, including Hermann Park, Terry Hershey
Park, Lake Houston Park, Discovery Green and Sam Houston Park.
Hermann Park is located in one of the most attractive areas of Houston. Nestled in
between the Museum District, Texas Medical Center and Rice University Hermann Park
provides Houstonians with plenty of greenspace to enjoy Houston’s temperate climate. This 445
acre park has been a significant resource for the residents and is celebrated as a place that always
welcomes diversity and foster s strong sense of community among its patrons. The entrance to
the park is at the intersection of Main St. and Montrose Blvd. The Statue of Sam Houston points
the way into the park and its many amenities such as the Houston Zoo, Miller Outdoor Theatre,
Houston Museum of Natural Science and the McGovern Centennial Gardens. There are two
notable Hills in Hermann Park, The famous Hill at Miller Outdoor theatre and a recent addition,
the Hill at the McGovern Centennial Garden. Even though both these “Hills” are located in close
proximity, they are certainly contradicting when it comes to the perceptible phenomena one
experiences while walking through.
Located on nearly eight acres in the heart of Hermann Park, Miller Outdoor Theatre is the
only free open air theatre of its kind in the United States. The Theater offers a wide range
professional entertainment, Classical music, Jazz, Ballet, Shakespeare and classic movies with
free performances running from March through November, where public can relax in a covered
seating area or enjoy the show from an Amphitheatre-style hillside which lies north to the
theatre. The Hill was an addition to the theatre simply for providing additional seating and yet it
becomes one of the hierarchical features of the Park as one walks through.
For a pedestrian visitor, walking in through the main entrance from the Sam Houston
monument, the hill is barely visible since the view is blocked by the tree canopies that run
through the reflection pool. Once the visitor walks through the trees, he can find himself in the
enormous landscape of the park which leads into the “Miller Hill”. This landscape space is open
