A hydra stainless steel contemporary abstract sculpture with tall, curved, blue and silver shapes stands on a concrete base in front of Denver Water Colorado’s modern glass office building at sunset. Power lines and a covered walkway are visible nearby.

Tall, shiny blue hydra stainless steel pillars extend upward in a circular formation, converging at the center. This contemporary abstract sculpture at Denver Water, Colorado, is captured from below, highlighting its dramatic reflective surfaces.

Denver Water

Commissioned by leading US art consultancy NINE dot ARTS, we designed two custom sculptures for Denver Water’s new headquarters in Colorado. The first was a huge customized version of Hydra, and the second a giant mirror-polished water droplet.

Design details

A large, silver teardrop bespoke contemporary sculpture sits on a stone base outside Denver Water, Colorado. Cut-out patterns adorn its surface as patches of snow and dry grass surround it, with the modern glass building reflecting the blue sky.

Seeking a standout piece for the entrance to the principal building, we worked with our clients on a number of concepts before landing on this large water droplet design, which they felt spoke to the nourishing, life-giving nature of water.

Drawing inspiration from our classic Mantle sculpture, the water droplet was formed from hundreds of mirror-polished steel petals welded together. The interior was finished in a powder-coated blue, but to achieve the desired finish, the team had to split the sculpture into four pieces and then weld them together once the interior had been painted.

Four workers in yellow vests and helmets install a teardrop bespoke contemporary sculpture with black accents outside the Denver Water building in Colorado. Snow dusts the ground as a crane supports the striking, silver centerpiece near glass windows.

Two people work in an industrial workshop at Denver Water, Colorado, surrounded by large, teardrop bespoke contemporary sculpture pieces made of leaf-shaped plates. Tools, equipment, and workbenches fill the space with concrete walls and a large garage door nearby.

A tall contemporary abstract sculpture with six blue, flame-like metal curves surrounds a central silver pole, set on a concrete base in a grassy area in Denver. The sun shines through the artwork, reminiscent of a hydra in form.

The huge Hydra was chosen for its similarities to the sinuous, fluid movement of aquatic plants floating up through water. During the design phase, we decided to customize the piece further by painting the face of each frond in a graduating, ombré effect, ranging from a rich royal blue at the base to a light azure at its peak. This color transition reflects the varying depths of water seen in natural pools.

Large commissions can be a challenge, but our experienced team worked collaboratively with US art consultancy NINE dot ARTS and local contractors to deliver and install both pieces seamlessly.