HADDAD | DRUGAN

This road project is located at a portion of the Indian Bend Wash where two branches of drainage meet and funnel.  A concrete drop structure facilitates the flow of floodwater down from a golf course to the north, under a new bridge, and into a basin that controls the water’s progression into an existing natural mesquite grove and lake.

The project provides an opportunity to create site-specific art integral to the structural work.  Concepts focus on intertwining and transitioning between cultural narrative and natural phenomena, through focal points in the drop structure and wash basin.

A series of fabricated aluminum horse gargoyles, reflecting the site’s history as McCormick Ranch, will be integrated into the drop structure.  Each pose is different, effecting a cinematic progression for cars driving by.  During floods storm water will flow through and around the gargoyles. 

Earthwork art characterizes the basin, beginning as a series of “stadia walls” that sculpturally mark changing water heights.  The walls have notches and inset lines of red tile, both at one foot vertical increments.   They transition into the more naturalistic “flow berms,” constructed of mortared rip rap with linear planters of desert bunch grass.  The ends of the berms are the highest points and will appear as islands during floods.