Halprin | Climbable Urban Water Features: The Plaza as Topography

An urban plaza is sculpted into an abstract natural terrain: layered, staggered concrete steps simulate mountain rock faces and waterfalls, with water cascading down from above in several streams along the steps, collecting in a pool below. There are no railings or no-entry signs here—people can walk up the steps, sit on the edge of the waterfall, wade into the water, and children treat the entire water feature as a climbing and play area. The concrete formwork marks are clear, and corners are sharp. Surrounded by dense trees and urban street blocks. Shot during a summer day, with the dynamics of the water and human activities within it visible simultaneously. Avoid: adding railings and no-entry signs, isolating the pool from people, making steps into regular stairs, smooth concrete surfaces.

Translated from Chinese by AI.

一座都市廣場被塑造成抽象化的自然地形:層層錯落的混凝土台階模擬山區的岩壁與瀑布,水從高處分成數股沿著台階跌落,匯入下方的水池。這裡沒有任何欄杆或禁止進入的標示——人可以走上台階、坐在瀑布邊緣、涉入水中,孩子把整座水景當成攀爬與戲水的場地。混凝土的模板痕清晰,轉角銳利。周圍為茂密的樹與都市街廓。夏季日間拍攝,水的動態與人在其中的活動同時可見。避免:加設欄杆與禁止標示、水池與人隔離、台階做成規則的階梯、混凝土表面平滑。