Luther George Park in vibrant Springdale, Arkansas City has just opened its doors to the public. The much-needed green public space was designed by Trahan Architects and landscape architects Spackman Mossop Michaels and features a striking centrepiece – an undulating spatial installation that plays the role of a canopy to shelter recreation, play, as well as outdoor performances.
Explore Luther George Park and its new undulating canopy
The spatial structure, titled the Performance Pavilion, was developed in partnership with The Downtown Springdale Alliance with funding provided by The Walton Family Foundation Design Excellence Program. It is located at the heart of the park, straddling its main axis and becoming at once a beacon for the wider open space and a sort of gateway or viewing frame for the park.
The architects explain in their project statement: 'The innovative dual-sided design of the Performance Pavilion allows for flexible use; when not hosting events, its sculptural, wing-like form serves as a shade canopy. A curving ramp and earth berm seamlessly integrate the stage into the landscape, ensuring equal access for Springdale’s community.'
The structure is made of 1cm-thick weathering steel. Its elements were manufactured by Netherlands-based CIG Architecture, which is known for its work with renowned artists Anish Kapoor, Frank Stella, and Olafur Eliasson. This raw steel shell is set to gain a patina over the course of its life, adding texture and dynamism to the composition, while highlighting the passing of time.
The architects add: 'The roof features a ruled surface that defines each panel joint, showcasing its intricate construction, while the underside is crafted to blend structural integrity with acoustic considerations. The design achieves a remarkable 150ft span with only two ground connections, lending the structure a weightless appearance.'
Meanwhile, the wider park, which features some 200 newly planted trees, was designed to enhance the area's native ecosystems and provide shade and habitat for local wildlife – marking a project conceived to look after humans and wildlife alike.
-
Incorp brings together the work of Sissel Tolaas and Panconesi in three unique fragrancesCollaborative fragrance project Incorp was founded by Kira Lillie, bringing together the work of artist Sissel Tolaas, jewellery designer Marco Panconesi and more
-
CES 2025: a collection of this year’s conceptual tech and real-world innovationsRobots of every shape and size were on display at CES, some with more promise than others, along with new approaches to art, health and entertainment
-
Discover Interni Venosta, the new furniture label where craft and beauty speak for themselvesInterni Venosta, the new furniture label of Emiliano Salci and Britt Moran, is a perfectly pitched celebration of craft, quality and nostalgia
-
A Texas ranch house blends Californian charm and Asian minimalism in a 'balance in hybridity'Pontious, a Texas ranch house designed by OWIU, is a home grounded in its owner's cultural identity, uniting Californian, Chinese and Japanese roots
-
The three lives of the Edith Farnsworth House: now, a modernist architecture icon open to allThe modernist Edith Farnsworth House has had three lives since its conception in 1951 by Mies van der Rohe; the latest is a sensitive renovation, and it's open to the public
-
Year in review: the top 12 houses of 2024, picked by architecture director Ellie StathakiThe top 12 houses of 2024 comprise our finest and most read residential posts of the year, compiled by Wallpaper* architecture & environment director Ellie Stathaki
-
A vacant Tribeca penthouse is transformed into a bright, contemporary eyrieA Tribeca penthouse is elevated by Peterson Rich Office, who redesigned it by adding a sculptural staircase and openings to the large terrace
-
A vibrant new waterfront park opens in San FranciscoA waterfront park by leading studio Scape at China Basin provides dynamic public spaces and coastal resilience for San Francisco's new district of Mission Rock
-
Tekαkαpimək Contact Station: a building ‘as inspiring as the endless forest and waterways of the land’The new Tekαkαpimək Contact Station by Saunders Architecture with Reed Hilderbrand and Alisberg Parker Architects, opens at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument in the USA
-
Entelechy II: architect John Portman's majestic beach home hits the marketEntelechy II, architect John Portman's beach residence in Georgia, USA, goes on the market; roll up, roll up for a home that is as grand as it is playful
-
First look: Honolulu's Victoria Place blends cosmopolitan living with Hawaii life and natureVictoria Place is a new residential tower at Honolulu's Ward Village; take a first look at its interiors
