Water Wheel Dock

The Willamette River was heavily polluted as the city grew. By the 1930’s, there was not enough oxygen for fish to live in it. With the help of the Environmental Protection Agency, funding was available to help the city clean the river.

Today the river is considered safe to swim in, but the sediment contains high levels of toxins, which still affects the wildlife. This lingering fear continues to divide the people of Portland and keeps them from the river. Interacting with nature and drawing attention to the natural beauty of the river is needed.

The outer shell acts like a water wheel and moves with the river. It gathers and circulates water over the dock covering. As it flows over the glass of the inner shell, light is refracted onto the observers below, giving the river a new perspective.