LOCATION: Malibu, California
TYPE: Sculpture Park / Landscape / Masterplanning
STATUS: Planning
TEAM: Christopher Hatch McLean (Architect of Record, HATCH) / Eric Gomez (Landscape Design) / Gary Wynn (Civil Engineer)
AREA: 3.25acres
Posed with the challenge of creating an amphitheater for one of the eight tennis courts at the Malibu Racquet club; we saw this as an opportunity to do something much more impactful than traditional bleacher seating. This amphitheater has been designed as a sculpture that will become a gateway to a new sculpture park. This park will be one of the most prolific art experiences in California, characterized by viewing art with the iconic backdrop of the Pacific Ocean and Point Dume. The form of the amphitheater is inspired by cave paintings from Chumash Native American tribe which were the first settlers in the area around 2500 B.C.. The form will functionally act as a retention system for the failing hillside and a funnel that will collect all the water runoff from the hills above with a large cistern below. This collected water will be used to water the landscapes and fight brush fires.