Double Ascension

The vibrant fire orange staircases designed by sculptor and typographer Herbert Bayer rise dramatically from a sixty-foot diameter circular pool. Originally named “Stairway to Nowhere,” the oil company that commissioned it found the title too bleak due to its perceived critique of capitalism. This striking installation gained cinematic fame in the 1976 thriller Marathon Man, starring Dustin Hoffman.

Engage with this ascending masterpiece by experimenting with different spots on the surrounding benches. The experience is captivating and might even feel unsettling from certain angles.