Dear Michael,
"The Dolphin is this mountain that has struggled its
way to thrust out of the tropical rain forest. That's
why there are banana leaves painted along the side
of the building. It is a mountain that dramatically
arose and in the process its heart exploded and the
water cascades out nine stories down the side of
the hotel, passing through the five clamshell basins
to a fountain and eventually splashing into Crescent
Lake. The walkway from the railings to the
landscaping mimic waves that splash onto the side
of the Swan. Two birds were so awed by this epic
spectacle that they alighted on the top of the waves
to get a better look and were magically transformed
into those frozen swans." (Michael Graves on the
design of The Swan and Dolphin Hotels)
Best regards,
R