peter cook + yael reisner float inflated blue hand in barcelona plaza

peter cook + yael reisner float inflated blue hand in barcelona plaza
photo by marcela grassi
all images courtesy of miralles / tagliabue EMBT

under the theme of ‘democracy’ for the pavilion series BCN re.set in barcelona, yael reisner and peter cook have collaborated to imagine and realize ‘take my hand’ in plaça de la merce. the public space has been transformed into a place for civil wedding ceremonies, which as a societal event represents a celebration of extended human rights. the inclusion of new possibilities in some countries for interfaith, non-religious, and same sex marriages provides freedoms that were previously not available.

the project’s distinguishing feature, a bright blue inflated structure in the form of a hand, is suspended above the plaza to serve as a shading canopy for the space’s events. below, a raised wooden walkway acts as the processional pathway and stage, while lined by 21 plant-covered columns.

the blue color of the elevated hand visually blends with the sky
photo by marcela grassi

the canopy takes its form and color from the universal logo for human rights, in order to clearly symbolize the pavilion’s intentions of promoting fundamental rights in civilized societies. additionally, the light-blue tone of the inflated object blends with the sky at certain times of day, increasing its visual intrigue. the balloon structure is held in place by strings tied to surrounding buildings and weighted posts on the ground. functioning to shade the space below, its irregularly shaped shadow morphs throughout the day as it moves across the plaza.

barcelona’s civil registration building is located on the south edge of plaça de la merce, thus making the pavilion’s activities particularly relevant. the design team states, ‘thus the two tenets of democratic behavior – the personal and the societal are brought here together, hopefully helped by the combination of a sympathetic registrar and a joyous couple – taking the celebration out into the square.’

the inflated hand form is tied down to surrounding buildings and weighted posts on the ground
photo by marcela grassi

BCN re.set has been arranged by the architect benedetta tagliabue, of EMBT, along with with fundació enric miralles. the pavilion series takes part of the city-wide festival tricentenari BCN, which commemorates the 300th anniversary of the events of 11 september 1714. the occasion seeks to rediscover the city of the 18th century and to contemplate on the present and future urban conditions, through various exhibitions, debates, seminars, publications, routes, celebrations, and art works.

take a look at a couple other urban interventions realized for the event, namely the ‘identity’ pavilion by urbanus or the xarranca pavilion by urban-think tank.