RAIN BLOOM PUBLIC CANOPY
The Rain Bloom Public Canopy is our proposal for a sculpture that dramatizes the ongoing work of capturing stormwater. Inspired by the endangered native perennial flower, the sculpture highlights the stages of water, its importance to a vibrant ecosystem, as well as its beauty and ephemerality.
The installation integrates a unique water collection system, using polyester mesh to condense atmospheric moisture into droplets, which are directed towards the legs of the structure. This harvested water can then be used to irrigate the adjacent community garden. Set within a thoughtfully designed landscape area, the Rain Bloom Public Canopy is a gathering space for all kinds of events and programming, and a space where people can connect to nature and to each other. At night, the sculpture can be lit up to highlight the glinting mesh, and can begin to take on different hues to reflect the changing quality of light in the night sky.
Location: Richmond,VA
Year: 2023
Client: City of Richmond
Service: Landscape architecture, community activation
Firm: Terreform ONE
Collaborators: Nina Anker, Brook Boughton, Tashania Akemah
TROUT LILY - ERYTHRONIUM AMERICANUM
The Trout Lily, an endangered perennial native to the eastern United States, is a remarkable plant that thrives beneath the shade of the forest canopy. When the leaves of the trees have fallen and the early spring sun can penetrate to the forest floor, the Trout Lily emerges, expanding its wings to take in the warmth. Each morning it opens up, and closes once again with the falling light, protecting itself from the cold. Once it reaches maturity, its stamens absorb moisture from the atmosphere, causing it to become topheavy and allowing gravity to pull itself upside down. In doing so, it protects itself and its seed load from the elements, and creates the conditions for insects to disperse its seeds. The design of the AquaFlora Public Canopy draws inspiration from the beauty of the Trout Lily flower. Its graceful form serve as a design reference, and its relationship with water, moisture and protection form the basis of our proposal. By incorporating elements that condense atmospheric moisture, collect water, and provide a canopy-like structure, we aim to reflect the Trout Lily’s resilience and its intrinsic connection to water in our design.