Full Review: SOM-Hargreaves-BIG Arch Grounds Competition Design

This is the fourth of five full reviews of the Framing a Modern Masterpiece: City + Arch + River design competition submissions. Each review focuses specifically at treatment of Kiener Plaza, the Old Courthouse, I-70/Memorial Drive, the Museum of Westward Expansion, the Old Cathedral, the Arch grounds north and south ends, the riverfront, cross-river connections and the east side as well as overall feasibility and overall excitement. Each of the five final design full narratives can be viewed on nextSTL here. Join the discussion in the nextSTL Forum.
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SOM-Hargreaves-BIG

Kiener Plaza
The plaza is flattened, but gains motion at the same time. The initial impression is dominated by artist Jaume Plensa's "Whispering Leaves." The largest leaf would house a cafe, others may have water falling from their upper edge. The leaves themselves are comprised of letters which would appear as an open lattice from any distance, the distinct letters blending together.

The leaves would bring welcome visual interest, placing more sculpture on the Gateway Mall and providing some continuity with City Garden. The artist predictably uses many metaphors to explain the leaves, "Every leaf is different and unique, but together they make a tree, like people making a community." I can see the leaves becoming a landmark, but I can also see them becoming dated in a decade or so.