Antelope Pier // A Narrative // Chloe Kisela

ANTELOPE PIER // ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY // CHLOE KISELA

DISCOVER...AN OASIS IN THE DESERT It’s my first time visiting Page, Arizona and the nearby recreational area of Antelope Point - or the larger Glen Canyon region, for that matter. As an avid traveler of the world and someone who enjoys experiencing new and varied cultures and landscapes, I was initially drawn to this area because of famous local landmarks such as Antelope Canyon or Horseshoe Bend. But, now that I’m here, I can’t help but find myself fascinated by and eager to explore more fully the Colorado River and Lake Powell, beautiful water bodies that have shaped the very natural landmarks that I’m here to see. It’s not often that you see such a large body of water in such an arid, dry climate! So, when a friend mentioned that there is a new vacationing community located on the nearby Antelope Island along the western shore of Lake Powell, I knew I had to check it out. I’ve parked my car on the eastern side of the lake in the lot on the northwest tip of Antelope Point, and as I approach the bridge that will lead me over the water to the complex, I pause to examine the architecture from afar. The people walking on the bridge and on the base of the complex look so very small from way over here. I notice how the undulating angles of the structure’s roof forms mimic the slow churning of the water below. The hills and valleys of the landscape beyond the community also rise and fall gently in harmony with these angles. Feeling rather excited, I slowly make my way towards Antelope Pier Bridge.

SITE CONTEXT PLAN OF ANTELOPE PIER & TOPOGRAPHY 0 ft

200 ft

400 ft

ANTELOPE PIER // ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY // CHLOE KISELA

PLAN OF ANTELOPE PIER & BRIDGE 0 ft

175 ft

350 ft

DISCOVER...A BRIDGE BETWEEN WORLDS I’ve begun my journey over the water and across the bridge, and I make sure to take my time and take in all of my surroundings during this roughly 1/4 mile trek. The bridge entrance gently curves inward, acting almost as a funnel in its encouragement of myself and other visitors down the pathway. The bridge seems to be about twenty feet wide, plenty of space to comfortably pass by the other visitors who are walking along or just admiring the lake. After a short distance, the pathway begins to open up a bit more again and I notice a series of grouped benches situated in front of a large garden full of agave and other native plant species. There’s an abundance of space for seating here, and there’s plenty of people who have made themselves comfortable at this respite along the pathway.

Some talk on the phone, some talk to each other, and one person may have even taken the opportunity for a quick nap in the Arizona sunlight! I pause to soak up the view of the lake and the landscape that seems to rise up around me. When my friend first told me about the complex and how it was located on an island, I couldn’t help but wonder if the community wouldn’t be rather isolated from the mainland. However, this bridge feels almost like an extension of what must be going on at the complex itself - friendship, relaxation, and (perhaps most importantly) fun. After taking a moment to sit on one of the unoccupied benches, I resume my journey towards the building, feeling even more anticipation of what could possibly be waiting for me. I walk down a long stretch of straight pathway before coming to yet another respite with seating and a garden, and it is here that I make a sharp turn right. I look down the waterway as I walk nearly parallel to the shoreline, and the utter distance betwen myself and the horizon line is awe-inspiring. I can’t wait to see how my stay at Antelope Pier helps me to better connect with the beautiful ecology of this region.

ANTELOPE PIER // ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY // CHLOE KISELA

DISCOVER...A SPRAWLING COMMUNITY As I near the end of my trek across Antelope Pier Bridge, the complex itself is starting to look a little closer - and it’s so very massive! I pass another large seating area and round the last corner of the bridge to make my way towards the main bridge junction, and I’m suddenly presented with a view of what must be the main community center. I’m eager to climb that grand staircase, get checked in, and start exploring the complex, but before I can, I notice that the bridge offers me two more branching pathways to investigate. I choose to go right at the junction and find myself viewing Antelope Pier from the northern end of the complex. I’m a bit closer to the buildings now, and I can see that there are three distinct levels, each with a separate undulating roof form and a large community center in the middle.

The complex is so large, so sprawling, it seems to extend horizontally forever. I notice how the concrete base of the structure curves along with the shoreline of Lake Powell, and I can’t help but hope the housing unit I booked has a good view of the water. I’ve heard great things from my friend who visited the Pier before about how her stay helped her to connect more fully to the unique ecology of this area, particularly the water, in ways she never expected. After all, it’s not every day that you find an oasis in the desert. Alright, I’m not sure how much longer I can wait...I should hurry up and go explore more of the complex. I turn around and make my way back to the junction, turn towards the grand entrance, and begin my approach toward the staircase.

ANTELOPE PIER // ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY // CHLOE KISELA

SHARe...movement & ascent I can now see that there are actually two staircases within this central module of vertical circulation - there is one shorter stair as well as a ramp leading from the lowest level of Antelope Pier to an intermediary level roughly eight feet higher, and beyond that reside the large stair and ramp that I could see from so far away. This stair leads me all the way up to the highest level, which seems to be maybe thirty feet or so above the intermediary level. I pass by several people as I make my ways upwards, and I find that this must be the primary means of travel between all three mats. I notice the earthen walls of a particularly large building, the primary community center and welcome area, rising up before me as I climb ever higher. When I finally reach the top, I take a moment to look back at the immensity of the architecture around me before I begin my exploration of each mat.

PLAN OF MAIN STAIRS & RAMPS 0 ft

12.5 ft

25 ft

ANTELOPE PIER // ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY // CHLOE KISELA

SHARe...the space between the lines As I begin to walk along the perimeter of each level, I can’t help but notice just how many seating areas and community gardens there are nestled in between the units. I pass some other visitors who are having a conversation on a bench, and they look up at me and give me a wave. I smile and wave back - it truly does feel like a community here, full of people who appreciate the culture and ecology of this unique desert area and are eager to learn more about it. I see families with children, people taking photographs of the stunning natural landscape, and others who, like me, are just casually enjoying a walk around the complex. I suppose these open circulatory spaces may have just as much to offer in terms of human connection as do the learning and making spaces inside. And I must say, I appreciate the prolific inclusion of plant life - I often forget that even dry, arid climates such as that of the Glen Canyon have such beautiful flora and fauna!

ANTELOPE PIER // ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY // CHLOE KISELA

SHARe...THE VIEW BEYOND ELEVATION OF NORTH MAT, AS SEEN FROM LAKE POWELL

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I continue my journey by exploring the perimeter of the western, uppermost mat. Looking east over the undulating rooftops of the lower levels grants me a remarkable view of the lake as well as of Antelope Point beyond.

I’m taken aback not only by the beauty of the water, full of depth and shining reflections which bounce off of it and make their way towards me, but I’m also taken by the beauty of the landscape. The softly rolling hills and valleys harmonize well with the still complacency of the lake, and as I travel around the perimeter of this level to look west, I’m struck by the vast sprawl of the dry desert ground that extends as far as the eye can see. Here at the Pier on Antelope Island, I feel so far away from the development and the hustle and bustle of everyday life. I soak up the views and at once feel more connected to the natural environment that surrounds me. This must be part of what makes the experience of staying at Antelope Pier so profound - I’m situated within the overlap between water and land, ground and sky, developed and natural, and I feel like I have a chance to slow down. I pause to enjoy these views just a little while longer before I turn my attention towards examining the architecture.

ANTELOPE PIER // ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY // CHLOE KISELA

ISOMETRIC OF NORTHERN MAT ROOF 0 ft

COLLECT...HILLS & VALLEYS One of the first things I noticed upon arriving to Antelope Pier was the prominent and varying angles of its undulating roof forms. Though these roofs that float above each of the three mats are separate, they all seem to behave in quite the same way - the roof rises above the entrances to the large community centers and the entrances of each housing unit, and it falls to provide some privacy and cover to the circulatory spaces in between. As I walk in front of the southern mat’s community center, I make sure to gaze upward and more closely examine the structure of the unique roof shape. I notice that it appears to be framed with both timber and steel, with the latter forming what appears to be almost an exoskeleton that stands on the strong, rooted legs of the steel columns that embed themselves into the concrete base beneath my feet. Of course, the roof is much too tall for me to physically touch, but I can still sense a sort of tactility about it. The warm, orange hues of the knotted timber remind me of the gently rolling desert landscape that extends all around me, while the coolness of the textured grey steel likens itself to the refreshing pool of blue-green lake water that swirls below. The roof forms cast a good amount of shadows over the housing units and communal centers, but it seems like these spaces still have enough access to light and views by way of their southern- and eastern-facing entrances. It certainly is nice to step out of the harsh Arizona sunlight and come underneath the respite of the Antelope Pier roofs. After spending a bit more time in quiet reflection, I turn my attention to the columns, walls, and floors of the modules beside me.

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16 ft

ANTELOPE PIER // ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY // CHLOE KISELA

COLLECT...HORIZONTAILITY & VERTICALITY The steel columns that connect to the framing above me offer a very different sensory experience than does the roof. I am able to walk up to one of these columns and touch it, stand next to it to get a sense of its height, and notice its connections to the steel beams and timber framing above. I can immediately tell that some of the columns are taller than others - those closer to the ends of each mat rise up higher than the others, seemingly allowing the roof to open up a bit more and invite visitors, like myself, to venture deeper inwards. Still, the very scale of these columns is quite massive! They look to be about three feet wide, which is no doubt necessary to hold up all that weight of the roof structure. The size lends itself to the sense of sheer massiveness of the design that I initially felt when approaching the complex from the bridge. And this feeling is in no way lessened by the thick earthen walls that make up the housing units and communal centers, which appear to be just over one foot thick. These walls have a very obvious layered quality to them, and I can immediately see the handiwork and physical care that went into their construction. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that the material used to craft the walls came from the very land of the Glen Canyon region - the color and texture certainly are reminiscent of the larger desert context in which Antelope Pier resides. I walk up to one of these walls to examine it closer and find myself feeling rather small when standing next to its great height. The ceilings of the housing units must be...at least thirteen feet tall! When I step back to again look at the entirety of the complex, I find that the verticality of these structural elements is contrasted and mitigated by the horizontality of the entire community.

Antelope Pier seems at once to be both flowing along with the lake, but also rising up from it.

SINGLE LEVEL WALL SECTION

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ANTELOPE PIER // ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY // CHLOE KISELA

COLLECT...light & shadow I couldn’t help but notice earlier just how much shading the massive roof form offers the units below - however, I’m also now seeing just how much light is able to make its way to the units beneath, particularly at this early hour of the morning. It appears that each and every housing unit is equipped with one or more large floor-to-ceiling operable windows which serve to let in light, and beyond which lies a system of operable wooden shading slats that seem to allow us, as residents, to regulate the amount of daylighting and privacy we want in our dwellings.

I pass by some housing units which have all four of their shading panels closed, others which have all their panels open, and others with all the assorted variety in between. The wooden shading as well as the wooden entry doors seem to be a prominent feature of the façade of each unit - not only that, but they seem to be a way for us to personalize our experiences and choose our desired level of communal integration at any given point in time. The warmth of the timber doors and shading contrasts with the cool-toned rammed earth walls, steel framing of the roof, and concrete mat bases below me, but is complemented by the structural timber framing and decking on the underside of said roof. This variety of color, texture, shape, angle, depth, and permeability allows for the creation of interesting shadows that fall against the flat earthen walls. The slitted shadows created by the timber shading panels are particularly eyecatching, and I can see some of these shadows falling on the furniture and forms inside the units. These inviting viewing and entry conditions are beckoning me inward - I feel it’s time to begin exploring the interiors of the communal centers as well as my own temporary vacationing unit. And so, I begin to make my way back to the primary communal center of the western mat in order to formally check myself in for my stay. Who knows, after seeing all that Antelope Pier has to offer, I may end up staying longer than I initially expected!

ISOMETRIC OF LOWER LEVEL SHADING & GLAZING 0 ft

10 ft

20 ft

ANTELOPE PIER // ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY // CHLOE KISELA

EXPERIENCE...COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

PLAN OF UPPER FLOOR EXHIBITION SPACE IN NORTHERN MAT COMMUNITY CENTER 0 ft

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The entrance to this primary communal center is at once both grand and intimate. I walk through one of the many wide glass entry doors and immediately find myself in the middle of a atrium lobby featuring a tall staircase that guides visitors, including myself, to an upper level walkway overlooking the entirety of the space. There are different seating and relaxation options along one of the ground level exterior walls under the walkway, and large timber paneling behind this seating yet again leads my eye upwards to the rising peak of the exposed roof form. There is a variety of color and texture present here that is reminiscent of the diversity of forms and materials I previously noticed in the design of the exterior. I see a couple of elevators, one on each end of the atrium next to the glass entry doors, which offer an alternative route for visitors seeking to reach the upper level of the center. I briefly admire some of the cultural and ecological exhibitions, which are put on by members of the community and located on the upper floor, before walking back down to the ground floor to check in. I’m quite excited to find out that the unit I’ll be staying in is located right by the water - but before I go rest my legs, I’d like to take a quick look around some of the gathering spaces in this and the other communal centers.

ANTELOPE PIER // ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY // CHLOE KISELA

EXPERIENCE...GATHERING & MAKING Located on the ground floor of this primary communal center on the western mat is a small grocery store / fresh food market that provides an abundance of options for food and drink, meaning I could stay within the immediate vicinity of the Antelope Pier complex for my whole trip and have all I could possibly need in terms of sustenance. This grocery features a small area for dining and gathering, but I soon find that the main dining hall and kitchen is located on the ground floor of the southern mat’s communal center. The kitchen staff serve traditional Navajo dishes as well as meals prepared from the fresh fruit and bakes available in the grocery. Barstools as well as large grouped tables provide different options for seating, so I’m sure I’ll be able to make new friends here while I enjoy some delicious and authentic cultural meals! I also make sure to explore the ground floor of the northern mat’s communal center, which I’m excited to learn features a gift shop as well as workshops in which craftspeople come in daily to offer lessons on traditional Navajo crafts such as pottery, jewelry-making, rug-weaving, etc. It is these very activities and goods that are being shown in the upper floor exhibitions and offered for sale in the shop! I’m sure I’ll be stopping here every day during my stay in order to more deeply interact with the culture of the Navajo people. It’s thrilling that Antelope Pier not only offers me a closer connection to the ecology of the region, but also to the long-standing traditions and art forms of those who live here.

ANTELOPE PIER // ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY // CHLOE KISELA

EXPERIENCE...A SENSE OF HOME And finally, after my long, winding journey around the various levels of Antelope Pier, I decide to retreat to the housing unit in which I will be staying. I have rented a unit on the lower level of the northern mat which features a living room, combined kitchen and dining space, bedroom, bathroom, and two floor-to-ceiling window and timber shading units that provide fantastic views out toward Lake Powell as well as other areas around the Pier. I walk in, put my belongings down on the living room furniture located immediately beyond the entryway, open a couple of the shading panels to let a bit more light in, and sit myself down on a barstool at the dining countertop. I take a few minutes to just appreciate the view of the lake and the landscape that I’m offered from this indoor vantage point. I hear the sound of the gently flowing water splash against the concrete sides of the mat base. I listen to children playing and adults conversing outside at a nearby garden and seating zone located between mine and my neighbor’s units. After soaking up the experience and deciding it’s time to tuck in for the evening, I make my way into the cozy bedroom. The soft texture of the linen bedsheets is quite inviting, so I quickly close the window unit’s timber panels for a bit of extra privacy before settling into bed, closing my eyes, and reflecting on my long day. I’m glad to be staying at Antelope Pier...it truly feels like I’ve found an oasis in the desert. I already feel a deeper connection to the water and the ecology of the site, an experience I don’t think I would have gotten if I had stayed in the city of Page or some other inland village. I’m also glad to have this chance to interact more fully with the Navajo culture, which will undoubtedly grant me a better understanding of the history and significance of the beautiful region. I’m feeling quite tired now, and as I drift off to sleep, I begin to dream of what adventures I might decide to go on tomorrow.

PLAN OF TWO ADJACENT HOUSING UNITS 0 ft

8 ft

16 ft