Tanner Springs Park


  • Caption
    View of Park
Related person
Herbert Dreiseitl (architect)
Location
North and Central America->United States->Oregon (OR)->Portland
Description
The park covers one block of the Pearl District, which was once a wetland and lake fed by streams that flowed down from the nearby hills in southwest Portland. This park is built on the site of old springs and celebrates the natural processes that once flourished in this low area. The springs forming Tanner Creek are named after the tannery built by pioneer Daniel Lowndale. In the 19th century, the lake and the wetland were filled to make way for warehouses and rail yards which were in turn replaced by residences, shops, and public spaces. (City of Portland, 2008)
The design has captured the area's history of native wetlands and flowing runnels by connecting the springs to Tanner Creek. The park collects stormwater, which is also stored in an underground cistern. Thus the wetland does not require any city water. It also demonstrates how the water is filtered and cleansed in nature by recirculating the stormwater through cleansing sand and wetland plants. (http://www.asla.org/land/032006/landmatters.html) The Art Wall in the park is an element that thrives on the polarity between the sites industrial past and the purity of its new nature. The wall is made of railroad tracks and is 180 feet long composed of 368 rails. 99 pieces of fused glass are inset with images of amphibians and insects. This wall is designed by Herbert Dreiseitl.
Style/Period
2000s (2000 - 2009)
Material
iron
water