City of Madison & Madison Arts Commission
Madison Capitol Square
Living Habitats was part of the Flow Forms America Team commissioned by the City of Madison and the Madison Arts Commission to redesign, fabricate and install four fountains and two planters originally designed by landscape architect M. Paul Friedberg in the early 1970’s. Living Habitats developed three concept design alternatives that helped win the work; the Beacon Concept was selected as the final design, highlighting the Capitol Square as gateway to the City and State.
To ground the new sculptural elements to the site, design inspiration was drawn from the Capitol building’s formal Beaux Arts character. The gateway design solution blends granite and bronze in a fusion of formal and eclectic styles to celebrate the movement of water through custom Flow Forms.
The team created full size models of the sculptures and tested water flow in advance of final forging and welding of the bronze pieces. Madison’s own Quarra Stone Company was the team’s stone fabricator. Over 4,000 individual granite pieces were designed, carved and finished and then hung onto hidden stainless steel framing. Many pedestals were pre-assembled and installed as completed units.
Tricky urban conditions with significant underground restrictions comprised the project’s three intersections. Out of site, a sustainably-minded recirculating water treatment system is housed in four large underground vaults directly beneath the new fountains. Those walking by the artworks are encouraged to engage with the moving water accessible at various heights along the sculptures.
The gently curved walls, bowl plantings, light spires and adorned square pedestals of varying heights create three unique compositions positioned at three of the Capitol’s four primary intersections. Together these artworks serve as a stunning visual anchor that are completed with similar sculptural elements (pedestal, bowl, and light spire) expressed in the Prairie Style of Frank Lloyd Wright on the fourth intersection that connects his iconic Monona Terrace structure to the Capitol Square.
Location:
Madison, Wisconsin
Date:
2003 – 2005
Team:
FLOW FORMS AMERICA: Prime Contractor & Flow Form Designer
LIVING HABITATS: Lead Hardscape Design, Documentation & Fabrication
QUARRA STONE COMPANY: Stone Supply & Fabrication
PENDRAGON FABRICATION: Metal Supply & Fabrication
