The medieval city of Bruges is known for its canals, but now the Belgian city’s connection to water is being explored in a whole new way. During the Bruges Triennial, which kicked off in May and runs until September 16, noted artists and architects from around the world are showcasing works inspired by the theme “Liquid City.” The theme is not just a nod to the canals but also to the need for flexibility during the current era of uncertainty and rapid change. Fifteen installations and exhibitions have been set up in the historic city center, including floating pavilions by Selgascano and OBBA that allow visitors to interact with the city’s canals in a whole new way. Several installations address the threat of rising sea levels, offering innovative solutions for future living. Discover the eye-catching designs that have taken over Bruges.
Korean architecture firm OBBA installed the Floating Island, a curved platform that sits atop the canal. The path covers more than 1,000 square feet and includes rope swings and elastic nets that can be used as hammocks, allowing visitors to recline over the water.
New York–based artist John Powers took inspiration from Belgian folklore for Lanchals, a nearly 50-foot-tall sculpture resembling a swan’s neck. The form is a nod to the 52 swans that, as legend has it, the city had to allow on the canals after an uprising in the 15th century.
StudioKCA worked with volunteers from the Surfrider Foundation and the Hawaii Wildlife Fund to gather the five tons of plastic waste used to build Skyscraper —also known as the Bruges Whale—a four-story-tall sculpture that rises out of the canal.
Architect Peter Van Driessche devised INFINITI²³, a dwelling made with rising sea levels in mind. The tower is made up of movable rectangular capsules that can be used for living and working.
The Minne Floating School is the third iteration of Kunlé Adeyemi’s innovative concept. (The first Makoko Floating School was built in Lagos, Nigeria, and the second was part of the 2016 Venice Biennale.) Set in the Minnewater lake, the new version was designed to be prefabricated and modular, and it’s expected to have a 25-year design life.
German architecture firm Raumlabor devised House of Time, set on an industrial site beside a canal. The long-term project is being built with the help of young people and will serve as a meeting space for them once complete.
Belgian artist Renato Nicolodi’s Acheron I rises from the canal like an entrance to the underworld. The installation is inspired by the mythical river where Charon ferries the dead to the realm of Hades.
Jose Selgas and Lucia Cano of Selgascano, known for their design of the 2015 Serpentine Pavilion, created a vibrant floating installation. The pink, yellow, and orange Selgascano Pavilion is a bright addition to the historic cityscape.
The Grootseminarie hosts an exhibition by the Fonds Régional d’Art Contemporain of the Centre-Val de Loire exploring fluid and organic forms in architecture. The show, which includes this piece by David Georges Emmerich, also focuses on advances in rendering technology such as CAD.