Sharjah24 – Reuters: The creators of Brussels’ vast flower carpet, unfurled every two years in front of city hall, have had to adapt to the heatwave sweeping Europe by opting for more heat-resistant blooms and adding pot plants to the display for the first time in the art project’s 50 year history.
Returning to the city’s Grand Place after a COVID-imposed absence, this year’s design recalls the first carpet laid out in 1971 which was inspired by Arabesque shapes.
With the installation expected to endure four days of highs over 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), the designers have had to adapt — swapping many begonias for Belgian dahlias which contain more water.
Whilst in the past, cut flowers have been used in the design, this year potted plants have been added too which are expected to cope better with the heat and which the organisers say are a nod to sustainability.
A hundred volunteers armed with bottles of water and sun hats, many of whom had travelled from abroad, spent more than six hours laying out the petals and wood.
The Mexican artist who designed the carpet Roo Aguilar Aguado said that on the plus side the intense sunshine brought out the best in the design's colours.
Organisers said that 400,000 flowers were used to make the 1,680 metre-squared display.
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