Steel Flower - Floralis Generica

Buenos Aires - Argentina

Inaugurated in April 2002, this gigantic flower has become one of the latest icons of Buenos Aires. Officially the flower goes by the name of Floralis Generica, but since nobody seems to be able to remember that 'scientific' name, it usually gets called the Steel Flower, sometimes preceded by the adjective BIG, and big this flower is being 23 metres high and weighing in at 18 tonnes. When the petals are open they span 32 metres and when closed only 16 metres. The architect of this original work is Buenos Aires born Eduardo Catalano.

One of the fascinating features of this sculpture is that it acts like a real flower in that its gigantic petals are open during the day and then close for the night with a red glow emanating from within. There are four special nights a year where the petals remain open: 25th May, 21st September and the 24th and 31st of December.

The Steel Flower is actually made of stainless steel and aluminium and sits in the centre of a pool of water which reflects the flower and also protects it from vandals.

Where is it?

The Flower can be found in the middle of the Plaza de las Naciones Unidas (United Nations Square) which is on Av. Presidente Figueroa Alcorta (near the pedestrian bridge that goes over the avenue) and cornering Austria street. It is a walkable distance down the hill from the Recoleta Cemetery.

Video of Floralis Generica

A video of the Steel Flower that I took as we did a complete circle around it. This way you can see the sculpture from every angle and also some of the surrounding areas in the background.

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