Designed by Urban Playground, the ‘Lighthouse for the Dutchman’ project was proposed for the chapel at the entry of the Los Dutchman State Park in Phoenix, Arizona. Through a rearrangement of an embryological, mathematical reference known as “Shrek’s Surface”, spatial varieties are derived as a way to alter the combined experiences of both the spiritual and natural environment in the Arizona desert. The prototypical, curved surface is morphed and manipulated, creating contextual and functional relationships that are then translated into a series of parameters for the building’s morphology. More images and architects’ description after the break.
The beautiful and special landscape of south-central Arizona, presents an experience for visitors unlike any other place. Dry, hot summers with a brief rainy season during mid-summer and late-winter, offers a unique planting palette inconsistent with most deserts around the world. Towering Saguaros, groves of man-sized chollas and prickly-pear cactus, dot the landscape amidst a rocky terrain. Located at the base of the Superstition Mountains—whose name derives from an old tale of a lost prospector whose gold treasure, as well as himself, have never been found—offers spectacular views of the massive mountain and valley floor below. The remoteness of the landscape offers a secluded environment perfect for contemplation and self-reflection.
