Memorable projects are those that are felt immediately from moment zero, in which everything comes together effortlessly, and the raw energy of inspiration sustains us through sleepless nights.
This was one such project.
Mona Kim and her partners of Program Collective had been invited, out of 200 international teams, to create a proposal for the new visitor center of the European Parliament of Brussels in this shortlisted competition.
Though the aim was to communicate the inner workings of the Parliament, we took it one more step to transform the public perception of the European Parliament through establishing an accessible voice and approach for the center, and creating series of dynamic people-focused public spaces and experiences.
When conceiving a project for a political entity, one can easily resort to a “safe” approach. We chose the irreverent and fearless path: break out of the expected box, dream up a place that could embody/transmit the democratic spirit of Europe and the visionary essence of the Parliament in order to bring politics and decision-making process closer to the people.
The core concept was based on the creation of simple and accessible "language" and"un-conventionally political" public space experiences: Branding to challenge preconceived notions of political organizations.
We did not win. But we are proud of our collective effort, knowing that we would certainly have visited a center that is experienced in this way.
GENERAL CONTEXT: EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT BUILDING IN BRUSSELS.
"NO BORDERS_CROSSING": AN INSTALLATION THAT TRANSFORM THE PRACTICAL AND FUNCTIONAL ASPECTS OF OBLIGATORY ENTRY (SECURITY CHECKPOINT).
RFID BRACELETS FOR VISITOR LANGUAGE RECOGNITION FOR VISITOR CENTER USE AND MERCHANDISED FOR PUBLIC SALES.
THE VOICE.
THE UMBRELLA CONCEPTS.
THE VOICE.
THE UMBRELLA CONCEPTS.
"THE PEOPLE" INSTALLATIONS:
A 1,000 SCULPTURE PUBLIC ART TO EXPRESS THE DYNAMISM AND DIVERSITY OF EUROPE. A SHARED PUBLIC PROJECT UTILIZING RECYCLED NEWSPAPERS COLLECTED FROM EVERY EU MEMBER NATIONS, AND CAST FROM REAL EUROPEANS CITIZENS.
"THE PEOPLE" INSTALLATIONS:
A PUBLIC PROJECT TO IMPACT URBAN REVIVAL OF AN “UNPOPULATED” AREA OF BRUSSELS.
THE SCULPTURES SPILL OUT FROM THE INTERIORS, ONTO THE STREET, CLIMBING THE BUILDING, POTENTIALLY INDICATING PATHS THAT CONNECT THE VISITORS CENTER TO NEIGHBORHOOD CULTURAL VENUES.
"THE PEOPLE" INSTALLATIONS:
INTERIOR VIEW
THE VOICE.
THE UMBRELLA CONCEPTS.
"THE PULSE":
A BUILT-ENVIRONMENT WITH OUTER SKIN THAT PULSES VIA PNEUMATIC TECHNOLOGY TO SYMBOLIZE THE INNER WORKINGS OF THE PARLIAMENT. INTERPRETIVE APPROACH THAT REPLACES LITERAL RE-CREATION OF THE ACTUAL PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER, THE HEMISPHERE.
LOWER LEVEL:
GENERAL ENVIRONMENT.
"LIVE EUROPE":
A DATA-DRIVEN AUDIOVISUAL INSTALLATION. AN ELECTRONIC "MOSAIC" OF EUROPEAN DAILY LIFE ISSUES.
"THINK EUROPE":
A MULTIPLE ENVIRONMENT AUDIO-VISUAL INSTALLATIONS THAT REVEAL THE HISTORICAL PROCESS OF EUROPE.
THE SHOP AS A "PUBLIC BAROMETER":
TO ENSURES THAT THE ETHIC OF DECISION, CHOICE AND COMMUNITY ARE INFUSED INTO A "BRANDED" CONTEXT OF PRODUCTS AND DISPLAY TECHNIQUES. IT PROVIDES A LIMITED AMOUNT OF PRODUCT, TO DELIVER A MAXIMUM MESSAGE TO THE WORLD, TO INVITE SELF EXPRESSION--TO TURN SIMPLE IDEAS OF POLITICAL PARTICIPATION INTO ACCESSIBLE, AND INDIVIDUALIZED CULTURAL PRODUCTIONS.
SELF-SERVICE T-SHIRT "DISPENSERS" BECOME EURO-BAROMETERS - GRAPHICALLY REVEALING THE PUBLIC PREFERENCES. IT MEASURES THE POPULARITY OF BASIC CHOICES (YES OR NO) CROSS-INDEXED WITH LANGUAGE, SIZE AND COLOR.