Block Fountain was constructed in 1974 by Lawrence Halprin as part of an innovative design that created a refuge in the very heart of downtown. His inspiration was the Colorado National Monument. The fountain was recently redesigned in May of 2003 by Thomas Balsley Associated of New York, however the original fountains of Lawrence Halprin's design remain.
Halprin was born on July 1, 1916 in New York City. He earned a degree in plant sciences from Cornell University, later attending Harvard Graduate School of Design. In 1943 Halprin was commissioned in the US Navy as a Lieutenant Junior Grade. He was assigned to the destroyer Morris in the Pacific which was attacked and destroyed. After surviving the destruction of the Morris, Halprin was sent to San Francisco on leave. It was here he would stay following his discharge. While living in San Francisco, he helped in the development of the contemporary California Style garden concept. In 1949, Halprin opened his own office. Halprin's work is marked by his attention to human scale, user experience, and the social impact of his designs. Recently many of Halprin's works have become the source of some controversy. Some have fallen victim to neglect, and are in states of disrepair. Budgetary constraints and the urge of some cities to "revitalize" their image threaten some of his projects. In response to this, foundations have been set up to improve care for some of the sites in an attempt to preserve them in their original state.
Some of Halprin's projects include:
- Visitor attractions at Yosemite Falls, Yosemite National Park in California
- United Nations Plaza as well as Levi Plaza in San Francisco, California
- Park Newport in Newport Beach , California
- Los Angeles Central Library and Maguire Gardens in Los Angeles, California
- Fountain Park in Sheboygan , Wisconsin
- The Ira Keller Fountain, Lovejoy Plaza Fountain, and Forecourt Plaza Fountain in Portland, Oregon
- Cascade Plaza in Akron, Ohio
- The FDR Memorial in Washington DC
- Seattle Freeway Park in Seattle, Washington
- Skyline Park in Denver, Colorado
- Heritage Park in Fort Worth, Texas
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