"Floralis Genérica" Sculpture, Buenos Aires (must see)

The environmental kinetic sculpture Floralis Genérica was a gift to the city of Buenos Aires by architect, Eduardo Catalano. It opens every day at 8 a.m. to symbolize hope.

Eduardo Catalano was born in Buenos Aires and commissioned the Lockheed Airplane factory to fabricate the large flower based on his design. It was his gift to the city of his birth. No particular flower is depicted and it is a generic floral design that symbolizes all flowers. It is 23 meters high and stands at the center of a park above a reflecting pool. The paths around the sculpture are designed to give different perspectives of the structure. It has six petals that are 13 meters long and 7 meters wide.

An electrical mechanism automatically opens (morning) and closes (evening) the Floralis Genérica. A red light glows from inside the closed flower. It opens again in the morning depicting renewed hope. The opening process takes 20 minutes. The petals are also closed when strong winds blow as a protective measure. On May 25th, September 21st, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, the petals remain open all night and are illuminated by red floodlights. Green lights illuminate the paths around the sculpture giving it a spectacular effect on these special nights.

Why You Should Visit:
To witness a unique example of what a modern sculpture can contribute to the beauty of a city.
Grand in scale, eloquent in design, photographs well. Lovely open parkland surroundings.

Tip:
Try to visit in the morning as the sun rises to see the petals open up.