Water Sky Garden, 2009

At the Richmond Olympic Oval, an official venue for the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games,
where the speed-skating events were held.

Richmond, British Columbia

FACT SHEET

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Project Sheet

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IMAGES



Photos: Peter Vanderwarker, Christina Lazar Schuler

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DESCRIPTION

This Olympic Oval commission takes run-off water from the facility's 5-acre roof and transforms it into a water garden intersected by curved pedestrian bridges, netted "sky lanterns", and water-aeration system. Visitors approach by a red boardwalk and bridges that cross over a new water garden. It is a contemplative space that encourages participants to linger and experience an all-encompassing art environment. The "sky lanterns" provide a new visual experience, putting art in the sky. Made of netted material, viewers look at them and through them at the same time. At night, they glow like lanterns. The water garden with fountains serves as a wetland treatment pond that provides storm water retention, water quality treatment, and water storage for irrigation use. The planting elements absorb heavy metals, prevent siltation and remove other impurities from water, provide native habitat for birds, mammals and aquatic life; and recreate an authentic native wetland garden experience for visitors.


MATERIALS

The sky lanterns are suspended from painted galvanized steel rings from which a TENARA® Architectural fiber net form is hung. TENARA® is made of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, or ePTFE, a highly durable material that can also be found on the outside of US space suits. The bridge is made of red painted cedar, the aeration system includes "water drawing" fountains that blow tiny air bubbles to help clean the water, and at night the lighting program illuminates the netted forms.


Size and Arrangement

Total area of Water Sky Garden: Approximately 75,000 sq. ft.
Length of Wooden Boardwalk: 300 ft.
Length of Pedestrian Bridges: 2 @ 52 ft. each
Total length of pedestrian link from Legacy Plaza (south) to Spirit Square (north): 725 ft.

East Net:
Largest diameter: 75 ft. (22.86 m)
Highest Point on Armature: 50 ft. (15.24 m) Above Grade
Galvanized Steel Pylon Height: 82 ft. (24.99 m)
Net Depth: 25 ft. (7.62 m)
Twine Length: 1070572.34 in. (16.89 miles; 72.18 km)
Net Weight: 271 lbs. (122.9kg)
Number of Knots: 115,910
Net Surface Area: 6,573 sq. ft. (610 m2)

North Net:
Largest Diameter: 52 ft. (15.85 m)
Highest Point on Armature: 40 ft. (12.19 m) Above Grade
Galvanized Steel Pylon Height: 66 ft. (20.12 m)
Net Depth: 20 ft. (6.1 m), with a 14 ft. (4.27 m) tail down to the water below
Twine Length: 11152611.56 in. (17.6 miles; 28.32 km)
Net Weight: 286 lbs. (129.73 kg)
Number of Knots: 61,853
Net Surface Area: 6,350 sq. ft. (589.93 m2)