Matsys

One of my first projects, “P_Wall” from 2006, in the beautiful home of David Oldroyd of . I’m so thankful that introduced us years ago and the piece found its home. This was the first of many collaborations with David.

“In the fourth-level living room, a white plaster wall sculpture-meant as a study for building skins by architect Andrew Kudless ()-creates a quiet juxtaposition against the satin black piano, as described in ’s feature on the San Francisco residence of David Oldroyd, principal of .

Opening today at the US Pavilion at the Venice Biennale: PORCH: An Architecture of Generosity!

The exhibition features 54 “porch windows” including our contribution, “Confluence Park: A Civic Porch for the Mission Reach”.

Confluence Park embodies the ethos of the porch as a civic and environmental threshold, a space where nature, community, and education converge. A living laboratory, the park is a place of gathering and exchange, fostering civic engagement through architecture that is both inspiring and performative.

Located at the confluence of the San Antonio River and San Pedro Creek, Confluence Park is a portal to the natural realm that celebrates water and the outdoors. The park’s central pavilion, a 6,000-square-foot structure composed of 22 concrete “petals,” exemplifies the porch’s dual role as shelter and facilitator of community. The petals provide shade while funneling rainwater for collection and reuse—shedding water while making space for people. Since opening in 2018, the park has hosted over 2,000 programs and 150,000 students.

You can experience the communal aspect of Confluence Park in this exhibition’s worm’s-eye view of the project and series of community photos that celebrate the park as a destination and host to diverse experiences. Every day, the project serves various uses from educational and recreational purposes to concerts, performances, and community gatherings. As seen in these “found” photos sourced through social media, the park comes alive with the energy and activity of community members.

Confluence Park redefines the porch as a space of generosity—a contemporary commons that invites both civic engagement and environmental stewardship.

Exhibition Design Team: Lake Flato Architects, Andrew Kudless of Matsys, and Stuart Allen.

Photos of the exhibition by Andrew Kudless. Photos of the built project by