Commissioned by the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency for the Hunters Point Shipyard redevelopment project. Opens 2011.
Seemingly constructed from parts salvaged from the Hunters Point Shipyard (HPS), Nautical Swing provides a place where up to a dozen people can relax, converse, and enjoy the view while gently swaying on a circular bench that is protected from the sun and rain by a glass overhead roof. Unlike traditional straight park benches, this circular design —a park-bench/porch-swing hybrid—fosters interaction and conversation.
Mirroring the redevelopment of the HPS site itself, Nautical Swing references the past, the present, and the future. The brushed stainless-steel columns and beams mimic the structure of the historic dry-dock and gantry crane. The roof structure looks as if it could once have been part of Navy Base Laboratory buildings. The bench is also stylistically similar to the new park benches that will be installed throughout HPS. The roof glass, which is angled toward the south, is clear at night and automatically tints in the daytime—offering protection from ultraviolet light, rain, and the glare of the sun.
At night, LED lights located under the bench subtly illuminate the structure, making the setting as seductive and romantic as it is in the day. The LED lights and automatically tinting glass are powered by three solar panels on the roof.
Employing an economy of means, Nautical Swing creates a celebratory park feature and a beautiful spot for neighbors to gather. The work is playful, romantic, and as entertaining as it is functional.
Nautical Swing requires minimal maintenance. It is comprised of a brushed stainless-steel infra-structure, a treated-wood bench, and laminated safety-glass modules that can be easily replaced if necessary. The ball and socket design restricts the arc of the bench so that its swing is limited to a safe moderate sway. A structural engineer will certify the design and fabrication.
The work will be delivered as a “kit of parts” so that it can be easily assembled in its temporary site, then disassembled, moved, and reassembled in its permanent site.
Materials: stainless steel, wood, self-tinting laminated safety glass, LED lights, solar panels.
Dimensions: 12’ x 20’ x 20’ (HWL)
