Antelope Valley Reflecting Wall

Pattern as community connection

In a collaboration managed by the Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, we proposed to transform an 18′ tall by 1000′ long retaining wall that is part of the Antelope Valley flood control project in the Lincoln. Designed to strict Corps of Engineers requirements, the design incorporates brushed stainless steel tiles arranged in an aperiodic Penrose tiling pattern that projects no more than 2″ from the existing wall. As the pattern never repeats, the long wall will subtly change and shift when viewed by the city’s residents from different positions in different light conditions. Fabric cast concrete “Quasiboulders” tune the hydrology of the site and provide platforms for social interaction and spontaneous performance.

Fabrication by Zahner.

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Approach from park

The wall forms an aperiodic Penrose tiling pattern comprising 2 discrete tiles. Inflections in the tiles increase the Reynolds number (Re) of the wall, slowing passing floodwaters to Corps of Engineers design parameters.

Backdrop for community gatherings and events

Geometry of the Quasiboulders

Project Awards

AIA Central States Region Honor Award, 2010

AIA Nebraska Merit Award for Unbuilt Architecture, 2009

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