Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant and Japanese Garden
Set within the layered landscape of Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant, this project explores the intersection of postmodern and traditional Japanese architecture through infrastructure, design, and environment through an editorial contemporary perspective. Completed in 1984 and designed by architect Anthony J. Lumsden of DMJM, the plant redefined how civic infrastructure could be experienced visually. Its sweeping concrete curves and cantilevered forms rise above a reflective lake, creating a structure that feels both futuristic and intentional. Through the path, a traditional Japanese garden designed by Koichi Kawana introduces a contrasting sense of stillness. An environment sustained by reclaimed water, where architecture and nature coexist in quiet balance. This shoot was developed as a study in contrast and harmony. Drawing from early 2000s visual culture, we incorporated elements like the Sony Walkman to anchor the work in a specific era, while allowing the space itself to guide the tone. The surrounding gardens, water, and wildlife created a naturally meditative atmosphere shifting the pace of the shoot toward something more observant and intentional. Moments of movement and stillness were treated equally, capturing both the structure's bold presence and the subtle life it supports. I directed the creative approach to reflect both the cinematic quality of the site and its lived environment. The result is a series that moves between futuristic architecture and grounded, sensory experience. Revisiting the space not just as a filming location, but as a place of rhythm, ecology, and design. This approach continues to inform my work across civic and architectural spaces documenting how infrastructure can hold aesthetic, cultural, and environmental significance while remaining deeply embedded in the everyday life of the city. Model: Arden Lassalle Photographer: Angel Origgi Produced by: Stephanie Siomara For project inquiries or collaborations: steph@siomarastudios.com
