In a narrow alley in the Godsbanen area of Aarhus, New Ark can be found – an artistic experience that encourages reflection on the body, architecture, and rapid climate changes can be found.
▼ Top View Of The Project
As if thrown from a high place, the three lifebuoys are embedded in the concrete, creating ripples.
▼ Project Overview
The New Ark is located near the Aarhus School of Architecture and consists of a 50-meter-long artwork made of undulating concrete tiles and polished steel lifeboats. It was a unique collaboration between architects and artists to transform a narrow passage into an urban space of high artistic value.
▼ Artworks In Aa Narrow Passage
To tackle one of our biggest challenges, the team has focused on water, an element with both appealing and destructive properties. As if thrown from the city’s rooftops, the three lifebuoys are embedded in the concrete surface, creating ripples. By using digital simulations, the movement of the water was captured in just a split second when the three lifebuoys touched the water. Waves and splashes are captured in minute detail, providing a fascinating glimpse into the fleeting nature of water.
▼ Water’s Ephemeral Nature
▼ Ripples On The Concrete Surface
The presence of water in the alley serves as a warning of rising sea levels and a tribute to the invisible history of the place. The artwork is located on a former flooded natural landscape that was 100 years ago. When visiting the place today, one can take refuge on lifebuoys, whose mirrors-like surfaces bring the sky down to the street and distort the architecture’s strict lines.
▼ Work’s Interaction With The Public
The tiles create a dynamic experience that prompts pedestrians to reflect on the relationship between the body’s rhythm and the waves. In this manner, the alleyways’ elongated character creates a surprising and sensory experience in the midst of the bustling city.
▼ A Unique Sensory Experience Amidst The Bustle Of The City
▼ Detail
▼ Detail Of The Ripples
▼ Drawing
