Piazza Lavoro, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA - Murals on Waymarking.com

Project Title:
Piazza Lavoro

Architect/Artist:
Ned Smyth

Media:
aggregate concrete, marble, ceramic tile

Sponsor Developer:
The H. J. Hines Company donated this work to the City of Pittsburgh


Description:
The artist, working in conjunction with a landscape artist, developed a circular plaza with three aggregate cement monoliths on its perimeter — each containing images which relate to the history of Pittsburgh. An archway, inlaid with mosaic designs of palm leaves, faces the Allegheny river. This Acropolis-looking structure rests at the top of a hill, which leads down to a smaller circular plaza at the water's edge which contains an aggregate cement palm tree at its center, and mosaic images of sea life surrounding its base.

The first part of the project consists of a circular plaza with three aggregate cement monoliths on its perimeter. Inlaid in the concrete monoliths are mosaic figures depicting both the positive and negative aspects of labor and industry in Pittsburgh's history. The circular plaza is surrounded on two sides by modern office buildings and serves as a gathering place with a view of the water. At the center of the plaza is an aggregate concrete palm tree, which symbolizes peace and the balance between natural and manmade phenomena. Viewing the plaza from the water, Piazza Lavoro resembles a citadel-like structure with tiers of circular steps leading up to a series of archways. The second part of Ned Symth's work is a smaller circular plaza called "Mythic Source", which is located on the water's edge in line with the large plaza located uphill. "Mythic Source" has a similar aggregate cement palm tree at its center and inlaid mosaic images of fish and man at its base. These images symbolize the origin of man and the inherent importance of water as a life-giving source.

City: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA Location Name: North Shore park Artist: Ned Smyth Date: 1984 Media: aggregate concrete, marble, ceramic tile Relevant Web Site: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
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Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   06/24/2012 Clan RunningBison visited it 09/09/2009 Metro2 visited it 09/14/2008 GEO WALKER visited it

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