Buenos Aires, Argentina | Strange Statues
Designed and paid for by Argentine architect Eduardo Catalano, the Floralis Generica, a giant silvery flower, has been a striking city landmark since it opened in 2002.
The enormous metal flower blooms anew every day in a pool of water next to the National Museum of Fine Arts, revealing four long pistons inside. Its six 13-meter-long petals open – which takes about 20 minutes – at eight in the morning and slowly close again at sunset, mimicking the actions of a real flower. When the petals are closed, the 18 ton flower is 75 feet tall and 52 meters wide, and when blossomed this amazing man-made flora is an incredible 105 feet wide.
The constructed flower reflects the city around it in the aluminum of its petals. When the petals close at night, the flower glows red. On just four nights of the year, the petals of the Floralis Generica remain open: May 25, September 21, December 24 and 31, keeping Buenos Aires in flower all night long.
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