Landscape Architect Articles

Stone Channel Is Sculpture Cum Stormwater Management06-19-08 | News

Stone Channel Is Sculpture Cum Stormwater Management

Vera Katz ?EUR??,,????'??Park?EUR??,,????'?? is an18-feet wide by 200-feet long narrow water channel of sculpted black Chinese basalt in Portland between NW 10th and 11th Streets. The water channel design, by Scott Murase, principal of Murase Associates, is part of the building?EUR??,,????'???s storm water management, which includes drought-tolerant landscaping and a bioswale to filter storm water from the sidewalk.

?EUR??,,????'??Sliver Park?EUR??,,????'?? was dedicated as Vera Katz Park on May 29, 2008, honoring Portland?EUR??,,????'???s former mayor, Vera Katz (at mike).

Vera Katz ?EUR??,,????'??Park?EUR??,,????'?? in Portland?EUR??,,????'???s Pearl District was created as part of the master plan to renovate Gerding Theater. The park is an interesting element in the urban mix, but also functions as an integral part of the building?EUR??,,????'???s storm water management.

The water channel is an elegant blend of stone artwork and craftsmanship. The intent was to evoke a boulder in finished form.

?EUR??,,????'??I conceived the water channel as a sculpture, where neighbors could interact with the wall and the water. You can sit on the stone, walk on it, and enjoy it,?EUR??,,????'?? explained Mr. Murase.

Yellow Mountain StoneWorks provided about 30 tons of black Chinese basalt from Southern China, and spent a week there at a fabrication facility to oversee the assembly, finishing and quality control inspections.

The channel?EUR??,,????'???s water begins by flowing through three layers of stone stacked up to three feet tall at the corner of 12th Avenue.

The park was built by Portland-based general contractor Baseline Industrial Construction.