people, places, things

Reed Fountain

The conversion of San Francisco rental apartments into condominium units provided the opportunity to redesign a five-stories deep courtyard. At the developer's request for a fountain, I created a series of small models exploring different approaches, and we settled on a low slab of stone, with water welling up through three-inch holes. Steel rods between thirteen and eighteen feet tall, move with the breezes and register the changing light in the courtyard. The slender verticals rising from a watery basin reminded me of reeds and cattails, so the project came to be called "Reed Fountain".

Besides the fountain I detailed the materials and planting plan, including a woven wood screen between patios. I worked closely with landscape contractor Frank and Grossman to see the project through construction. The project won a First Place Bay Area Landscape Award from the California Landscape Contractors Association.