Toward The River's Edge

In Memphis it seems we either suppress the edge


or ignore it.


We pour concrete or stone on top of it,


we clear cut and mow it,


we abandon it.


Maybe we suppress it for the same reasons we run from the forest. And we ignore it because we're stuck with a vision of someone else's waterfront -- San Diego, or New York or Destin, or Pickwick.

Memphis needs a vision of the architecture and landscape for the River's edge. The vision should recognize both the edge's natural beauty,

and us.


The River should be the landscape architect.

The man-made structures, the paths, or boat docks, or houses, should be built to survive the River's power, and complement the natural --the River's water, mud, trees, etc. And they should point us to the River. They should tell us to use it. And reward us with their beauty when we look back from the River.


They should not be built to overpower its natural edge.