Mueller Texas + Concept and Goals
- Amanda Massengale
- Feb 13, 2019
- 5 min read
History
Mueller is a transit-oriented community located in Austin, Texas that began as Robert Mueller Municipal Airport (RMMA), Austin’s first airport for commercial use. In 1971, the city decided to start looking into a new airport due to the fact that RMMA was becoming increasingly landlocked. In 1984 CARE introduced a new plan for reconstructing Mueller as they relocate the airport, officially closing the airport in 1999. In 2003, Seton Healthcare Network and the city agreed to open a children’s hospital in Mueller. In 2004, the city council approved the zoning allowing for the Mueller Master plan to be put into effect officially in December. Each year afterwards the Mueller area began to develop slowly with the introduction of new retail, eateries, and living options (Mueller, n.d.).
Mueller Texas
As mentioned in the History of Mueller, in 1984, a new plan for this area in Texas was introduced that promoted a compact, higher-density development that was a pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use community (Mueller Redevelopment, n.d.). A main focus in Mueller was to pull away from the “automobile-dependent” community styles and instead create a community that provides shopping, eating, and living opportunities within a close proximity (Mueller, n.d.). A large aspect of Mueller’s appeal to the community is their green rating. Each home within the community is required to earn a minimum three-star rating from The Austin Energy Green Building Program or LEED certification. All Commercial buildings are Austin Energy Green Building Program-rated and most are certified by US Green Building Council (USGBC) andLEED program (Mueller, n.d.).
Demographics
According to the 2017 American Community Survey the overall population is 5,396 with about 49% being male and 51% being female and a median age of 32. The marital status in Mueller was recorded as 35% never being married, 30% married couples, 2% separated, 3% widowed, and 9% divorced. Employment in this area is 41% white collar and a little over 9% blue collar with 5% self-employed, 32% working for private companies, 8% being government workers, and 4% working for non-profit companies. Households in Mueller are at a total of 2,046 with an average of 3 people per household. Family Households are at about 17% of that total and non-family households are about 20%. Households with children are about 10% and households without children are 26%. The total number of houses in Mueller sits at about 2,212 with the vast majority built before the 1990s, but only about 2,046 are occupied with a median value of $223,600 without a mortgage and $272,150 with a mortgage. The average income in Mueller is $62,931 with those over the age of 45 making between $45,000 and $50,000 per year (Mueller Demographics, n.d.).
Environment
The environment in Mueller can be described as subtropical humid climates. Summers get relatively hot but depending on cloud cover and breeze, they can drop to the 50s at night. Winters in Mueller are relatively mild and will only drop below freeing point less than a month out of the entire year. Rainfall is pretty spread out but adds up to about 33 inches per year and are the heaviest during May and September. Overall, weather in Mueller is pretty decent and is made for outdoor activities and encourages resident’s interaction with the community (What is the Weather Like in Austin, Texas?, n.d.). The community itself has a lot about 400,000 square feet specifically of retail space making Mueller a place for shopping, coffee, lunch dates, grocery shopping, and banking. Business may include clothing shopping such as Old Navy and Marshalls, Eateries such as Chipotle Grill, Starbucks, and Smashburger, services such as Visionworks and Dentists offices, and many others including Total Wine and HEB (Mueller, n.d.).
The Neighborhood
The residential community in Mueller are separated into four different types of homes all of which have a very traditional yes innovative design. Yard houses are single-family homes with a garage that opens to the back alley of the house giving the home an inviting front porch with carriage houses above the garage and a large yard for entertaining. Garden Court Houses are designed similarly to the yard houses as they are a grouping of homes around a central point, in this case a garden courtyard. Row Houses are Mueller’s version of townhouses that are grouped together with large front porches and detached garages. Condominiums are also included in Mueller and are located in central Mueller next to the eateries, shops, and entertainment areas (Mueller, n.d.).
Existing Memory Care Communities
There are current over 21 memory care communities in the Austin, Texas area including the following: (21 Memory Care Facilities in Austin, TX, n.d.)
Brookdale Beckett Meadows
The Pavilion at Great Hills
Silverado Onion Creek
Legacy Oaks
Elmcroft of Austin
Pecan Ridge Memory Care
Site Plan of Mueller
Concept Statement:
Mueller Memory Care Community will be located in Mueller, a small city in the heart of Austin, Texas. This community will be designed to promote socializing and comfort between residents by providing a common areas and activity spaces made specifically for residents with Alzheimer's and Dementia to keep their minds and bodies active. Mueller Memory Care Community will be designed with an open and inviting floor plan for all common spaces. When going through the entry, visitors and residents will be welcomed into a living space that mimics the modern living room but also flows into a beautiful dining space that incorporates rich wood tones and deep, blue tones to create a relaxing space. Other areas included for resident use include a spa, a small workout area, a game room, and smaller living spaces for small gatherings and activities. These smaller rooms will incorporate more pops of color and small patterns to intrigue the residents and their families. Ample amounts of seating will be provided throughout each common space to accommodate for residents and potential visitors while also providing space for residents in wheelchairs and required pathways for those passing through each space. Wayfinding into each space will be done through color blocking each space for interest and to help identify each space as its own.
Goals:
Connection:
-To provide spaces that allow for interaction between Residents and Employees.
-To provide common areas and activity spaces that allow for Residents to engage in relationships with other Residents through the layouts of furniture and accessible areas for those in wheelchairs.
Intellect:
-To provide a design that engages the minds of the Residents and allows for growth and learning throughout their time at Mueller Memory Care.
-To provide spaces that allow for creative activities that encourage Residents to display their knowledge and their skills.
Physical Wellness:
-To encourage the use of the outdoor trails by providing direct access visibility of the courtyards from the common spaces.
-To provide an indoor studio meant for light workout classes and movement throughout the day.
Purpose:
-To provide each resident with activity spaces that make them feel as open and independent as they were in their own homes.
-To provide meaningful design aspects to the space that mimic the comfort of a personal home.
References
Mueller. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.muelleraustin.com/
Mueller Demographics. (n.d.). Retrieved from
Demographics.html
Mueller Redevelopment. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://austintexas.gov/department/mueller-
Redevelopment
What is the Weather Like in Austin, Texas? (n.d.). Retrieved from
21 Memory Care Facilities in Austin, TX. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.caring.com/senior-
living/memory-care-facilities/texas/austin/lp2
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