California Scenario

California Scenario. Introduced in 1980. Isamu Noguchi was commissioned to design a 1.6 acre public garden to enhance two office towers built on family land once used as a lima bean farm. California Scenario, an abstract metaphor of California's diverse natural environment, is considered to be one of Noguchi's significant contributions to Landscape Architecture. The garden begins at a thirty-foot-high sandstone triangle named "Water Source", travels through a water and stone filled stream, and ends at "Water Use", a granite wedge., "Forest Walk" takes visitors past a patch of California redwoods, while "Land Use" is an eight-foot-high knoll, topped with a simple form of Sierra white granite. "Desert Land" features desert plants atop a domed gravel-covered mound. The sculpture "Spirit of the Lima Bean", composed of twelve-foot-high carved granite boulders, educates visitors about the earlier use of the site. The "Energy Fountain", is twenty five-feet in diameter and made of granite bricks and stainless steel. , 1 , FOREST WALK , Visitors pass a patch of California redwoods to evoke one of California's salient characteristics. , 2 , SPIRIT OF THE LIMA BEAN , Twelve-foot-high granite boulders, indicative of the land, once used as a Lima Bean farm. , 3 , WATER USE , A granite wedge symbolizing the end of the California Scenario stream. , 4 , DESERT LAND , Symmetrical mound planted with a variety of cacti, agave and other desert plants. , 5 , WATER SOURCE , A thirty-foot-high sandstone triangle functions as the beginning of the stream. , 6 , LAND USE , Consisting of an eight-foot-high knoll, topped with a simple form of Sierra white granite. , 7 , ENERGY FOUNTAIN , Embodies California energy. The fountain is twelve-feet-high and twenty five-feet in diameter, and made of granite bricks and stainless steel. , MIND YOUR STEP , Part of the beauty and design of the California Scenario is its use of natural materials. As in nature, the uneven walking surfaces in the Garden require your attention. Please enjoy your visit, but take care as you stroll. Thank You.