drawing from
inspiration
color, form and light
Imagine if downtown alleys were active, energized destinations with wide-reaching allure — 20ft WIDE was a designed temporary exhibition space showcasing the potential of tactical urbanism. A large team of design professionals, artists, municipal commissions and university students integrated color, form, light, repurposed material and programmed events to activate a ubiquitous yet overlooked aspect of the urban cityscape.
Music, arts and crafts, food, and storytelling drew hundreds of people, challenging conventional thinking about the role of downtown alleys. The project’s impact catalyzed creation of a Downtown Alley Master Plan.
see morepromoting imaginative
exploration
It’s Austin’s epicenter of play for all children — and all those with fearless child-like imaginations. Drawing from the surrounding cultural and natural context, the park design promotes imaginative exploration through immersive features, including distinctive arrangements of locally sourced limestone and hills mimicking an underground aquifer’s rare qualities. Elements like a rock and slide valley, rammed earth climbing wall and original works of art and music will celebrate Austin’s rich heritage in an irresistible way.
see more
expressing natural systems
through art
Located at one of the nation’s leading institutions on native plants and conservation, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Luci and Ian Family Garden tells a rich story of central Texas ecology and natural sciences through artful play elements.
Whimsical features like a walk-in grotto with waterfall, oversized bird nests woven from on-site grapevines, a walk-through Fibonacci spiral forged of mosaic-inlaid limestone walls, karstic limestone boulders with interactive watering holes, and a flowing creek with dinosaur footprints enchant and educate children of all ages.
see moregeometric forms
organizing space
Communal amenities are the key differentiator in today’s multifamily residences — and Platform elevated the conversation to a new level. Accommodating a major grade change in an L-shaped space, the courtyard design utilizes variety in scale and materiality, along with compelling geometries to organize the space, to provide the feeling of distinctive outdoor rooms within a cohesive setting.A large active pool — surrounded by ample seating, a trellis and turf areas — terminates at a water wall that drops down to a series of three plunge pools with varying rectilinear forms.
see more
cultivating adventure
Thoughtful re-use of on-site materials, considered use of color, and endless opportunities for exploration and discovery make Big Adventure Park a community destination. The park features benches forged from on-site pecan trees, zip lines, rope bridges and more which offers an endless variety of pathways and perspectives of the park.
see more
restorative powers of
art and nature
A pioneering healthcare facility, Dell Children’s prioritizes the restorative powers of nature and unstructured play to aid recovery and well-being. Its sustainable approaches also set new standards for healthcare design; it was the world’s first LEED Platinum healthcare facility.
Anything but sterile and boring, time spent at Dell Children’s is full of whimsical play and immersive environments—and they’re integral to the therapeutic process. The outdoor healing garden serves as the hospital’s backyard and includes a labyrinth, human sundial, ponds and a butterfly garden amid bright colors and textural variety.
digging for more?
→ contact us to receive even more information on how art shapes our work.
see more