Part of three focal exterior courtyards for the regional Kaiser Permanente facility, the Entry Courtyard integrates architectural and interior design concepts to provide continuity of function as an exterior public place for visitors, patients, and staff to wait, converse, and gather for presentations and public relations events. As the first of three such courtyards, it establishes an initial vocabulary of similar elements for all the spaces, creating a visual memory relating to each of the other courts. The elements that define the character of this space include regular groves of tree bamboo, bench seating, and a glass-tiled water wall. The bamboo plantings—all of which reach up to two to three stories in height—provide for vertical attenuation of filtered sunlight and movement deep into the space. The tall grove allows for transparency through the site from the main entrance and elevators and presents a pleasant rustling sound generated by wind and water movement.
SITE: Vallejo, California
SIZE: 18,000 sq. ft. (all courts)
SCOPE: Entry Court Seating, Planting
DATE: Completed 2009
CLIENT: Stantec, Kaiser Permanente
PHOTO CREDITS: Cesar Rubio
The ground plane is crushed glass cullet which catches and diffuses both sun and artificial illumination, creating an undulating surface of light like a geometric pool of water within the paving surface. In-ground lights buried below the glass cullet surface create pools of light at night that spread and diffuse through the plantings, creating a tranquil and sublime evening presence where people can retreat into the groves and find respite.