Old Growth
Charlotte is a modern city of polished granite, glass, stainless steel, and contemporary architecture. It is also a southern town with tree lined streets that soften its edges and give the city a sense of historic grace. The city’s abundant tree canopy contrast its static architecture, providing a connection to nature and a record of its past. This project brings these characteristics to the Charlotte Douglas FBO terminal. I approached the design by considering not only the sculpture itself, but the ways in which it interacts with the surrounding environment and visitors. Old Growth is visually stimulating, provides contrast and balance in relation to its environment, reinforces a connection to nature and the passage of time, and enhances the experience of airport visitors and employees.
It was not my desire to make a literal rendering of a tree, but to create a sculpture that expresses a tree’s essence. The form of the sculpture follows the form of a tree’s growth, expanding within a structured manner yet following random paths. I wanted to capture a tree’s ability to appear at once vulnerable and steadfast, unyielding to its surroundings yet completely in harmony with everything around it. It is a tree’s scale and presence that I was able to bring to the space. Visitors passing through the FBO terminal interact with this sculpture, leaving them with a subtle reminder of Charlotte as a modern yet historic city, a city of culture and business yet one still connected to the natural environment.
Materials were chosen to reinforce the design concept and minimize maintenance over time. The warm tones, texture, and evolving surface of Cor-Ten steel contribute to the natural feel of the design. From a structural standpoint Cor-Ten is durable, strong, and easy to maintain. Plants are all native species and drought tolerant. Granite stones were sourced locally and custom cut to echo the repeated forms in the sculpture.
The monumental scale of Old Growth invites interaction from several perspectives. Driving into the terminal, it provides a focal point and destination. The view from the terminal invites viewers to come closer. Landscaping is soft; grasses lend a somewhat wild air to the otherwise harsh environment; granite blocks provide a place to sit in the shade. On this more intimate level the viewer can watch the light moving through the blocks and experience the expanse of the sculpture. As visitors exit the terminal, they drive directly under the tallest parts of the sculpture, reaching 40 feet at its heigh. Whether from a car, walking to or from the terminal, passing above in flight, or sitting in the space itself, the sculpture provides a complex, calming landmark for the Charlotte Douglas FBO terminal.
