H₂O Flow

Supporting an increased awareness of the importance of understanding how man’s actions effect the land and how interactions between people can influence the use of natural and cultural resources, Dr. Layne created this sculptural work of art, H₂O Flow, in order to promote a greater perception of the relationships that exist between natural, cultural, and experiential systems.  Defined as aesthetic engineering, the three main objectives were to: (1) create an aesthetically pleasing site-specific environmental artwork that followed and spotlighted the natural existing topography, depicting the water collecting and water dispersing forms; (2) employ art to solve a man-made ecologically degrading environmental problem by slowing down and dispersing single point and overland water flows during peak stormwater concentrations; and (3) provide opportunities for community participation in creating public works of art and in educating the public to the value of artwork in our lives.

 One hundred feet in length and employing over 2,400 individual pieces of bamboo from 3” to 11 feet in length and from 1 ½” to 3” in diameter, the main visual element is a wave of vertical to semi-vertical bamboo posts that flows along and matches the contours of the two drainage watercourses and separating promontory embankment.  Mirroring and spotlighting the curvilinear flow within the landscape and the obvious verticality of the multiple tree trunks, the undulating screen consists of bamboo poles harvested from the artist’s Warrenton, NC property. Besides creating a visually appealing environment, the sculpture also helps to mitigate stormwater/erosion control problems of runoff from adjacent building rooftops and overland flows during high water rain events. H₂O Flow acted to hold up the eroded banks allowing the natural plant growth to become reestablished, thus providing a mechanism for healing of the landscape.

Horticulture students enrolled in a landscape design studio at North Carolina State University assisted with the installation while learning practical applications of grading, drainage and stormwater management survey, analysis and construction techniques. These concepts were later employed to inform one of their in-school landscape design projects.  Requiring approval of the Town Arts Advisory Board, this project shows how art can spotlight and even repair natural systems.  Layne worked with the Chapel Hill Town Storm Water Management, Landscape Design, Urban Forestry, and Sustainability staff to make sure the concept was viable and to ensure the construction materials and methods met all Town regulations and standards.

The American society of Landscape Architects included this project in its list of case studies of successful “green rainwater infrastructures.”