Conscious Actions: The 2020 Miami Design District Annual Commission

Each winter, the Miami Design District commissions a creative studio to reimagine the environment of the neighborhood through a public installation. Woven through the Design District’s main passageways, the installation engages the native trees, architecture, and outdoor sculpture to create a unique experience for visitors.

We’re proud to have been named curators of the 2020 Miami Design District Annual Commission. In this role, we invited innovative designers, architects, and artists to propose site-specific neighborhood installations exploring the theme of energy. Each installation was designed to inspire reflection on both the energy that we consume and the energy that we contribute back to the world, while proposing concrete actions that can be taken towards a more resilient, healthy, and equitable Miami.

The winning commission—Conscious Actions by Chilean design studio gt2P—features interactive, architectural, playground-inspired objects that invite users to enjoy the carefree fun of childhood again while also being reminded of the direct impact that every action has on our environment and communities.

Scroll on to see more on Conscious Actions as well as inspiring proposals from the other outstanding finalists—Atelier Office, Germane Barnes, Emmett Moore, Nicole Nomsa Moyo, and Marjan Van Aubel!

The Winner: Conscious Actions by gt2P

Conscious Actions is a series of interactive, playground-inspired objects that invite users to enjoy the carefree fun of childhood again while also being reminded of the direct impact every action has on the world around us. Each device—including a swing set with a dancing canopy and parasols that float up and down in the trees—is activated through physical, natural forces. When users generate energy through these forces, they are rewarded with delightful effects like reactive shadows and kinetic motion.

As gt2P’s Guillermo Parada says, “As children, we learn not only our ABCs, but also how to interact with others. On swing sets and slides, on bikes and in ball pits, playtime helps us to learn to think conscientiously about the consequences of our actions.”

Against the backdrop of the past year, this message—communicated through a nostalgic, universal, and unapologetically happy medium—feels particularly resonant: Joy and connectivity as a call to action.

Finalists

Power to Miami by Marjan van Aubel

Power to Miami is all about the city’s energy. The sun shines in Miami 73% of the time, making it one of the sunniest cities in the US. So why do we see so few solar panels here? Miami could in fact become energy self-sufficient by relying solely on the sun’s energy. The installation will enhance the Design District by providing both shade and energy in a beautiful, visually impactful form. During the day the parasols harvest solar energy, and in the evening they offer a warm light through integrated LEDs. The canopies feature organic, colorful solar cells combined in dynamic patterns that cast pleasant, unexpected shadows. The support structures are outfitted with solar-powered USB charging stations, as well as small texts and QR codes that allow guests to learn more about Miami’s local solar movement and even donate directly to support local standout Solar United Neighbors’ efforts to make solar available to everyone. 

Water Parks | Water Marks by Germane Barnes

Water Park | Water Marks tells a uniquely Miamian story through the lens of water as a critical force in our lives. The primary element takes the form of an oversized, stylized building gutter that engages Paseo Ponti and Jade Alley, with functions that range from water mister to seating, from wade pool to table. Though often overlooked, the gutter is critical in the mitigation of water. Utilizing solar powered LEDs, the gutter incorporates pulsating light to inform visitors of rising sea levels, immersing guests in the presence of water. The second element spotlights the effects of climate change on specific, vulnerable Miami communities such as Little Haiti, Little River, and Liberty City, honoring their rich, distinct cultural legacies alongside efforts to preserve them. Complementary programming will engage local community organizations integral to maintaining a culturally diverse Miami—at the same time that we build towards a more  equitable one.

Victory Garden by Emmett Moore

Victory Garden is a series of modular, sculptural planters interspersed throughout the Miami Design District. Victory Garden is an edible garden of native plants in planters made from repurposed stainless steel drums. The sculptures will feature solar powered USB outlets, creating clean, passive energy charging stations for phones. A series of programmed events by local urban farmers will educate the public on local native plants – including how to find and consume them. The project gives back to the local community by educating, feeding, powering and inspiring.

Rising by Nicole Nomsa Moyo

Rising takes visitors on a journey that visualizes the impacts of climate change in Miami as water levels rise. MDD blocks have been divided and defined as storm categories from level one to five, where native trees are wrapped in a variety of blue muslin fabrics to signify the impacts of rising water levels. The journey begins in Palm Court, which represents storm Category One, and trees are wrapped around their lower trunks. As visitors journey north, they’ll be immersed “under water,” and by the time they’ve reached Paradise Plaza they will experience Category Five, where rows of light blue “wavelike” fabrics are suspended from the trees At Jungle Plaza, guests encounter Contain, a blue shipping container transformed to share stories, sounds, and images from local communities already clearly impacted by climate change.Ultimately, Rising affirms the necessity of rising together to combat these issues.