MID-OCEAN STUDIO

Oculus & Wellspring

City of Council Bluffs/Iowa West Foundation

Council Bluffs, IA

2007

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BROWER HATCHER

Here is a webcam from Bayliss Park.  Installation is in progress   (opens in new window)

Proposal Images

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EXCERPT FROM PROPOSAL TEXT:

Project Description

For the public art component of the Bayliss Park renovations I have developed a comprehensive plan for the Fountain, Performance Pavilion, Interactive Water Feature, and Seating.

Fountain

The Bayliss Park fountain has been a traditional focus and icon for the community of Council Bluffs since its inception in the 1880’s. My design intent is to maintain this historical continuity by evoking the original form of the fountain while at the same time constructing it so that it is an image of the future. The fountain is intended as a representation of the community of Council Bluffs, a community with a strong sense of tradition that also embraces the Information Age.

During the winter months the sculptural fountain form would stand elegantly in the space, crystalline in the winter sun or illuminated at night as a beacon in the snow. In summer the fountain form would be activated by a geyser shooting water over the framework, cascading over the tiers of rings into the pool below. Additional water jets and lights would complete the sequenced aquatic display.

Performance Pavilion

The performance pavilion provides an active amenity for the park as a site that invites performances, weddings, community ceremonies and celebrations. For this space I intend to create a dome, constructed with a multi-layered structural matrix of powder-coated stainless-steel rods. This dome is set on four classic columns that evoke a classic tradition in juxtaposition to an Information-Age network.

This multi-layered matrix is built of a layered sequence of colors, which in the sun makes a prismatic rainbow of hues. At each vertex of this structure a mirrored stainless steel disk would be inserted to reflect light. By day the dome would be radiant. At night with lighting – and during performances- these reflective dots would be effervescent. The steel framework of the underside of the dome could also support theatrical lights for performances as well as spotlights focused up into the dome.

Interactive Water Feature and Play Area

In addition to the interactive water feature in this area I propose to create a family of 6 black squirrels. These squirrels would consist of three originals and three duplicates. They would be child-sized, approximately 30 inches tall and cast in bronze.

Furniture and Art Benches

In order to maintain continuity throughout the site, I intend to design and build all the furniture in the quadrangle surrounding the fountain. Here it is my intent to use the same materials, method of construction, colors and finishes as with the fountain and dome.

The combination of the fountain, dome, play area and furniture would give the Bayliss Park redevelopment vitality and excitement, and provide an attraction for Council Bluffs that would make Bayliss Park unique in the region, and present Council Bluffs as a forward thinking community.

(June, 2005)

Click on images for a larger view.

Click on images for a larger view.