Flatiron Plaza
As the winter holiday season approaches, people and cities tend to enter a state of holiday frenzy. The beautiful part of all this madness are the decorations and the gifts, of course. Flatiron Public Plaza Holiday Design Competition is at its second edition this year, and it is organized by Van Alen Institute and the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership. The winner of this yearâs contest is SOFTlab, a design studio based in New York City, with their NOVA installation.
Courtesy of SOFTlab
SOFTlabâs winning proposal is basicly a macro, human scale, kaleidoscope, that captures and diffuses the surroundings, creating both a visual and a sensorial experience by âremixing the surrounding iconic buildings with color, light, and the reflections of pedestriansâ. An interesting mix of sensations is created, for different âusersâ. You can capture beautiful pictures with an âiconic and festive figure from aboveâ, or from the distance, or, if you would like to have a more intimate experience, you could enter this colorful âcrystal-like, mirror-surfaced playgroundâ, and re-live a fun childhood activity in a grown-up manner.
Courtesy of SOFTlab
NOVA, the winning installation, will be revealed to the public later this month, on November 18th. Set to become a tradition in the future, the contest aims at bringing to life new ideas by using new materials and technologies. The installation will be placed in the plaza in front of the Flatiron building, in Flatiron District, New York.
Courtesy of IMABA
This yearâs structure is very similar to the one that was the winner last year, mostly at a visual level. âNew York lightsâ, by INABA, the 2014 winnerâs proposal, was an installation with mirrors, that reflected the surrounding buildings at different angles, during daylight, with mirror framed âwindowsâ, through which visitors could see bordered previews of the surroundings. And it became a  âpopular selfie spot for the holidaysâ last Christmas holiday season.
By Cristina Juc