Floralis Generica

The dramatic centerpiece of the Plaza de las Naciones Unidas, the Floralis Generica is a giant 18-ton aluminum flower sculpture that has become one of Buenos Aires’ most instantly recognizable landmarks. The quirky art installation was erected in 2002 in the parkland that bridges the city’s Palermo and Recoleta districts and features a striking mirrored finish that dazzles under the sun and glows red in the evening hours. Designed by Argentine architect Eduardo Catalano, the futuristic monument was envisioned in homage to his home city and was gifted to the public by him.

Most uniquely, the remote controlled sculpture is programmed to open and close its six petals with the sun, so that the flower is in bloom during daylight hours before closing up at sunset. Each morning (the petals open at 8am) and night crowds of locals and tourists gather in the park to watch the 20-minute spectacle, as the 66-foot-high flower changes color with the setting sun and slowly closes up its 43-foot-long petals as darkness sets in. The most remarkable of Buenos Aires’ many street art pieces, the Floralis Generica also pays tribute to the city’s most memorable dates. For 4 nights a year the flower remains open in celebration of the May Revolution on May 25th, the start of spring on September 21st, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.