Waterline Square
Fluid wooden bridges under a fleur-de-lis sky; the Nexus experience at Waterline Square
How does one describe the experience of the multi-level Nexus room at Waterline Square?
The name itself denotes a confluence of visuals, the culmination of a journey. And it does not let the participant down on either front. It is an inspiring transformative space, From the sensual tactile wood with its elegantly curing transition from stair to bridge, to its 1940 chevy termination at the base, it intentionally stimulates all six of the human senses.
One would think that being underground, the Nexus room would be akin to a cave. Quite to the contrary. The experience is expansive, illuminating and varied from level to level.
Level 1: Starting at the base level, one looks up and discovers taut wood bridges inspired by the organic ingenuity of vines stretched taut from tree to tree against the open sky. Arching all the way overhead is a sprawling cloudscape of thin white fins, inspired by capillaries of palm fronds arranged with the grace and lyrical quality of an orchid, and the delicacy of strings on of a harp. The seamlessly finished wood- clad stairs beckon one to climb into this luminous space and explore the looping suspended pathways that hover above.
Level 2: The second level, which is actually the entry level, is one of transition. Here one gets the overall vista of the space, seeing pedestrians above and below as well as being able to chart a path to the pool, the gym, the yoga rooms, and even a soccer court. Now you really grasp the Nexus as the heart of the world’s largest amenities center, with 100,000 square feet devoted to fitness, relaxation, self-care and convening. As a designer, I understood that the Nexus would be the beginning of an adventure, and that passing through each portal into the space should feel like embarking on ever-changing journey as each day could be a new challenge, a new destination, a new experience. Wanting to energize visitors on their way, I focused on sourcing a warm, richly toned wood and nestling color-cued LED lights into the ceiling, so both could evoke a living, changing, growing space. At one point in the early development, I was asked to price up using fiberglass instead of wood to clad the bridges and stairs, I noted that would ruin not only the tactile and grounding aspects of the material but add the negative energy of an unnatural material. I am glad I prevailed.
Level 3: The upper level is an entirely different experience. Here is an intimate space; the dynamic ceiling is almost touchable, changing the relationship between the individual and the room. This is a place to stroll, contemplate, and get lost in the complexity, and consumed in its beauty. Here you see all the ceiling fins, computer printed to make waves of white that catch the various colored lights, but also how these come together, like branches of a tree coalescing into the column or trunk. The remaining striations evoke the xylem and phloem of a plant’s vascular system, tracing the circulatory coursing of energy, the lifeblood of the room. Creating this literally multilayered, metaphorically resonant, materially sensuous space has been a significant adventure for me too. Taking the idea from a computer rendering provided by the architect to a safely engineered, expertly executed reality took over four years, and incredibly complex team coordination, patient project management, and an artistic vision that I carried into each decision. Working late one night, exhausted, as the project neared completion, I ran into a maintenance staff member who did not know who I was or my relationship to the room. He said he came down here every night at the end of his shift. He described it as a meditative space, like watching a great sunset. He said he could feel the space was made with a lot of love. I cried, that moment made the long hard journey all worthwhile.
Take care and Happy Holidays,
Joe Jaroff
@Jaroff Studio
