Located in breathtaking Indian Creek Utah, this project objective was to create an entrance for a historic ranch which is both visually low impact, yet a discernable marker. This design allows for the specific information about the property to be clearly stated as well as discouraging uninvited visitors from entering. We used the ranch vernacular and unique geology of the area in the selection of durable and relevant materials. While the property is rich with history, the client’s brand is uniquely contemporary. To best incorporate this dichotomy, these natural materials are merged into a contemporary design. In keeping with our custom aesthetic, we created the ranch’s brand (logo) out of water jet cut steel elements.  To give these a reflective quality, we backed the perforations with aluminum, which catch light when shone toward it.  The stone bases are abstract representation of the geologic layers found on the ranch range. These “layers” are crafted from Indian Creek river cobble.  The lighter sandstone cap seen on the skyline, in the middle, signifies the signature Wingate layer of rock found in the cliff bands.  These features help to give the entrance an undeniable sense they “belong” to this place.

This project was crafted from hand sketches and brought through computer modeling. Full scale mockups were made to test the scale the writing for legibility and content. The construction in this remote area required thorough planning and staging.