re-collective’s gate to nowhere opens in seattle
photo © re-collective
all images courtesy of re-collective

 

 

 

the ‘gate to nowhere‘ by re-collective is an installation that honors the abandoned highway ramps near seattle’s washington park arboretum. the site has been used by picnickers, swimmers, bird watchers, and partying teenagers ever since it was deserted after citizens protested against urban motorways in the 1960s. for the public project, the architecture-artist group has wrapped a single support pier in acrylic mirror with stainless steel strapping to reflect images of water, trees and air against its brutalist form. the perceived effect is a distorted representation of the surroundings into abstract forms, varying dramatically in accordance with the amount of sunlight, weather conditions, and time of day. furthering the manipulation is the water below, whose constantly form ripples and undulates as animals, trees, and other forces of nature disrupt its condition. the designers encourage passage through the gate by means of a boat. the temporary work is on display through the fall of 2014 with the ramp slated for demolition soon after.

re-collective gate to nowhere seattle
the mirage of mirror and water surface
photo © re-collective

re-collective gate to nowhere seattle
the curved mirror distorts the reflected images into abstract forms
photo © re-collective

re-collective gate to nowhere seattle
ripples on the water surface further abstract the reflections
photo © re-collective

re-collective gate to nowhere seattle
reflections vary depending on light, weather, and time of day
photo © re-collective

re-collective gate to nowhere seattle
perfection and imperfection in the concrete column geometry are visible in the reflected image distortion
photo © re-collective

re-collective gate to nowhere seattle
the surrounding wetland was dredged to make room for highway construction in the 1960s
photo © re-collective

re-collective gate to nowhere seattle
boats and canoe rentals for passage are available nearby
photo © re-collective

re-collective gate to nowhere seattle
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