DTLS was selected by the Gateway Foundation and the Craft Alliance to design and enhance the entrance of the new Craft Alliance building located in the Delmar Maker District. The entrance redesign was undertaken to accommodate two sculptures by the German artist Dietrich Klinge. The design team developed multiple iterations to establish a dialogue between the two sculptures, creating an inviting atmosphere for visitors. This dialogue is created through a rift featuring diverse plantings and rough stones that gradually emerge from the ground near the artworks, transitioning into a smooth surface in the center to facilitate building access. The stone used for the rift garden and paving material was repurposed from a previous DTLS project.

The two sculptures on the site presented the challenge of designing a platform that would allow efficient removal and installation of the artworks. DTLS collaborated with structural engineers, contractors, and masonry specialists to determine the best method for attaching the sculptures to the stone, ensuring ease of maintenance.

The decision to refrain from installing an irrigation system in the rift gardens helped guide the selection of plan species - all of which thrive in hot and dry conditions. This plant palette softens the rigid forms of the protruding stonework, incorporating grasses such as bouteloua and asters, which will introduce vibrant colors and forms to the entrance area. Lilac trees, coupled with an assortment of forbs and grasses, delineate the boundary of the Craft Alliance building, framing its entrance and fostering a welcoming atmosphere for visitors from the community.