The Scottsdale Canal Dry Up Project revolves around the idea of renewal and rebirth prevalent in the lore of the Phoenix. Canal water flow must be dammed in order to be cleaned and maintained – thus allowing the irrigation to continue and the fish to survive. Similarly, our project mimics this cycle of revitalization. The project is constructed of homemade, un-fired terracotta blocks that are designed to dissolve back to silicate when water is rereleased back into the canal. From within this temporary structure, aquatic foam toys spring up from the structure, suggesting rebirth. The blocks, being a primitive building unit, are arranged utilizing cutting edge emergent, parametric computer algorithms that help craft the overall form. This mirrors the duality of Scottsdale – ”The West’s Most Western Town,” which straddles the Old West and a modern city.