Deb, Robin and I went last Sunday to visit the Cochiti Dam to see that side of the Rio Grande River.When driving toward the dam, you are greeted by a huge concrete wall. Once on site, concrete accompanies you into the water.
Cochiti is also supposedly a recreation place. But I was shocked to find that the space is not attractive. If you decide to go to a pueblo, far from the center of Albuquerque, it is not to see the concrete. The outer parts of the dam is repugnant. Concrete is out of place in that nature.
In addition, we read that people can swim in the water of the dam. But no space is built on the edge for swimmers. I imagine someone having bathed in an afternoon of August lying on the concrete (burning). I am not an architect but I think something better could/should be done in terms of development of the nonetheless impressive site.
In the middle of summer, I imagine a swim in the Rio Grande waters would be amazing. It's a distressing shame to read the architects didn't keep cool summer dips in mind when planning the thing.
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