Diffuse Dock

Emerging from Lake Austin like a mythical water creature, Diffuse Dock contains two boat slips beneath a canopy of perforated stainless-steel panels. The form was inspired by seashells, whose structure is strengthened by curves and distortions. The overall shape, pattern, and arc of each panel were developed through custom parametric scripts. Fourteen painted steel ribs form the superstructure, each assembled from layered plates that create a concealed channel for attaching the perforated panels. Hidden horizontal bracing stiffens the assembly. The panel pattern, inspired by reptile skin, shifts through four levels of openness—more open near the water to more closed above. The dock’s tone and texture subtly change with the quality of water, light, and air throughout the day; at night, the structure becomes a glowing lantern dissolving into the water’s surface.

“It’s wonderful to look at from the client’s house, but it’s also not a poke in the eye to the neighbors on the lake. Instead, it’s something they got for free to look at that’s quite special. It’s an incredibly innovative use of materials, form, light, and expression.” —James Timberlake, FAIA

View full Design Awards submission