In a small plaza next to a skyscraper in Guangzhou, China, an elaborate piece of landscaping and sculpture offers more than a quiet spot of contemplation for passing pedestrians in the city’s busy business district. A sunken space amid soaring towers, the plaza is designed around a canyon of waterfalls, with more than 3,000 precision-cut stone blocks individually anchored to the surface of a retaining wall—creating a distinctive organic texture out of abstract, seemingly naturally eroded shapes. 

Descending 7 m from the street and more than 80 m long, the stone wall sculpture includes an active waterscape with waterfalls cascading down stone panels, intended to evoke a mountain stream. On-site wastewater treatment ensures the water is kept clean. Careful management of the flowing water and installation of the stone surfaces allowed for a large LED screen to be embedded within a recess of the sculpture, adding another layer to the visual composition and a backdrop for performances.