The Infinite Green – European Capital of Culture Wrocław 2016
The Infinite Green is a sculptural project that exemplifies the concept of a “green sculpture”—an integration of steel and wood structure, substrate layers, and living vegetation. It applies the Layered Green Wall principle, merging artistic expression with ecological function. The project was designed to serve three interconnected purposes: artistic, social, and cognitive. From an aerial or elevated perspective, the sculpture evokes the form of the infinity symbol. Visitors are invited to enter and move through the interior of the structure, experiencing the piece from within. The project also introduces a chromatic experience: over 110 m² of surface area, planted across seven layers, host a rich spectrum of green tones created by a diverse array of species—each blooming at different times of the year. In total, the installation features over 3,000 plants from 60 perennial species and 60 sub-species. Completed in 2015, The Infinite Green was installed in the courtyard of a newly revitalized residential complex on Barlickiego Street in Wrocław. The initiative was part of the program “Wrocław – Entrance from the Courtyard,” and functioned as a catalyst for social transformation. Wrocław, a city fully repopulated after 1945 with communities from Poland’s former eastern territories, holds a unique sociocultural context. After Poland’s 1989 transition to democracy, residents gained ownership of communal buildings they had long inhabited. This project sought to inspire social empathy and collective action, encouraging residents to collaborate in transforming the neglected courtyard into a green oasis for rest and interaction. The form of the sculpture integrates the mathematical symbol for infinity into its architecture—signifying both eternity and the essential role of living nature in human survival and well-being. The Infinite Green was launched in summer 2015 as part of the Visual Arts Programme of European Capital of Culture Wrocław 2016 and remained active until 2021.
Picture 1-8: "The Inifinite Green", 2015-2021, Wrocław, Poland, (pictures taken in July 2016, photo Credit:AK); picture: 9-12, models and realizations of LGW concept solution.
„The Infinite Green", 2015-2021
2015 http://www.designboom.com/architecture/infinite-green-eco-sculpture-adam-kalinowski10-20-2015/
2015 http://inhabitat.com/the-infinite-green-is-a-living-looping-sculpture-covered-in-over-3000-plants/
2016 TOUCH DÉCOR, JAN-APRIL 2016 issue; www.touchdecor.com; (Hard copy)
2015 http://wroclaw.wyborcza.pl/wroclaw/1,35771,18647520,mieta-lawenda-i-gozdziki-nowa-instalacja-na-olbinie-wideo.html; (Hard copy)
2016 http://www.bryla.pl/bryla/7,85301,20515866,wroclaw-nieskonczony-zielony-czyli-co-moga-rosliny.html; Bryła, GW, Warszawa.
2016 http://adamkalinowski.com/assets/deco-167-taiwan-2016.pdf
2016 https://forecastpublicart.org/eco-sculpture-design-could-be-useful-for-hot-dry-climates/
2016 https://adamkalinowski.com/assets/par55_rp_infinitegreen_cover.pdf
2017 https://www.braun-publishing.ch/en/landscape-architecture/compendium-of-landscape-architecture.html
2020 “The Green Structure for Outdoor Places in Dry, Hot Regions and Seasons”
2021 https://builderscience.pl/resources/html/article/details?id=217778
