“The form of the boat dock was inspired by the organic structure of seashells, whose curves and distortions serve to strengthen and stiffen the shells.”
Emerging from Lake Austin like a shimmering seashell or mythical water creature, the Diffuse Dock contains two boat slips beneath a curvaceous canopy of perforated stainless-steel panels. Fourteen painted steel ribs, each 29 feet long and assembled from three segments, form the superstructure. Each rib comprises two 9” outer plates sandwiching an 8” inner plate, creating a 1” channel where the stainless panels are attached. Horizontal bracing is provided by staggered ¾” steel plates hidden from view. The ribs connect to HSS beams resting on round steel piles, braced underwater with ⅝” rods. Hydraulic lifts are hidden beneath the piers.
Stainless steel was chosen for its durability as well as its ability to reflect and refract its surroundings. The panel pattern, inspired by reptile skin, was digitally traced and modified into four levels of openness (67%, 48%, 31%, 17%); the panels shift from more open near the water to more closed above 12 feet, where solid panels begin. Eyebrow-shaped gaps overhead allow for ventilation
Viewed from certain angles, the sidewalls appear to dissolve into the rippling surface of the water. Throughout the day, the dock’s tone and texture subtly change with the quality of water, light, and air. At night, the structure transforms into a glowing lantern that dissolves into the water’s surface.
PROJECT
Diffuse Dock
LOCATION
Austin, Texas
SCOPE
New Construction
PHOTOGRAPHY
Rafael Gamo