Cliff Garten Studio presents Rassambleau, a public art environment at 300 Alexander Court in Philadelphia, PA. The project was commissioned under the auspices of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Agency’s Percent for Art Program and in collaboration with the design team, which includes the developer, Property Reserve Inc., Robert A.M. Stern Architects and BLT Architects. Rassambleau creates a new public street, pocket park and motor court located between the new Alexander apartment tower designed by Stern and The Church of the Latterday Saints Meeting House. This project creates an elegant and welcoming streetscape with a courtyard that speaks to the historic context of the neighborhood and the strong tradition of Philadelphia’s brick and masonry architecture. The ensemble of linked sculptures consists of courtyard paving, bronze luminaries, curb swales (as part of stormwater management), granite fountain sculptures, stone benches and other elements Garten uses in the development of his landscape sculptures. Like much of Cliff Garten Studio’s work, this project focuses on the idea of integrating art into public places and infrastructure. Rassambleau challenges the quality of the street environment and stormwater management infrastructure to explore design possibilities for rain gardens in a particularly innovative manner.
