Ribbons is a landscape sculpture in the open-air courtyard of 50 UN Plaza. As the centerpiece of the historic renovation, it balances contemporary sculpture and sustainable strategies within the building’s historic fabric. Ribbons responds the hierarchy of the Beaux-Arts architecture with a powerful horizontal arrangement of sculptures made from cast, recycled concrete and carved granite fountains. Rising from paving ribbons, the sculptures form a rhythmic circulation system of permeable decomposed granite paving within a grove of white birch. The sculptures rising, twisting and falling on the woven ribbons of paving loosely reflect the twists of a ribbon. In the midst of the Beaux-Arts decorative architectural traditions that they reference, the sculptures are a singular and significant response to the architecture. The vertical movement of a grid of Himalayan White Birch counters the horizontal emphasis of the sculptures. A pallet of native coral bell and fern define linear planting beds beneath the understory forest of birch. Weather-based irrigation saves 40% of normal water use. Two carved granite fountains anchor the long axis of the courtyard, providing the subtle sound of water flowing over their polished surfaces.
