The Emerald City in Washington State is one of the few cities in the U.S. that might have it all, from picturesque nature to giants in the tech industry, not to mention its landmarks, music, and cultural scene. Which is why it should not come as a surprise that Seattle has solar flowers that make photosynthesis and bloom. How is this possible, you may ask. It’s all thanks to 48 cells that can produce 1.1 kW. What’s more, these solar flowers also pulse with sound, making them a truly remarkable sight.
Integrating nature with art, technology, and sustainability
The modern world is rapidly evolving, and this evolution is evident topographically. By around 2007, more than 50% of the global population already lived in urban regions, with UN-Habitat reports predicting that this figure will increase to nearly 70% by 2050. As a result, urbanization has led to significant natural habitat loss and pollution, which is why more and more cities are highlighting the importance of sustainability.
One of the increasingly popular approaches to educating people about sustainability and clean energy is by integrating nature with art, technology, and renewable energy. Simply put, some innovative designers have created unique sculptures for urban areas. This not only expresses artistic innovation, but also creates aesthetic in public spaces and evokes public engagement.
A perfect example includes the city of Seattle, which boasts very unique solar flower sculptures. Find out more below.
Seattle’s solar flowers make photosynthesis
In August 2013, the city of Seattle became home to yet another artistic and innovative landmark. Seattle’s solar flowers, known as Sonic Bloom, were designed by the artist Dan Corson. Sonic Bloom was the result of Seattle’s Pacific Science Center’s call to artists to create public art that illustrates solar energy. According to Corson, his inspiration came from the “Humming Heliotrope.”
“I was thinking about how some flowers move in order to capture the sun.” – Dan Corson
What makes the Sonic Bloom even more unique is that it continues to light up at night despite the city being known for its cloudiness. While Sonic Bloom’s solar power production cannot contribute to the U.S.’s dominating power growth for 2025, it does offset the city’s energy consumption in the summer months. What’s more, it doesn’t just light up, it also pulses with sound.
Producing 1.1 kW and pulsing with sound
Sonic Bloom consists of five towering solar flower sculptures, which are 33 feet in height and 20 feet in width. Corson stated that the Australian firewheel tree contributed to his design’s inspiration and that the flowers’ scale was deliberate. He added:
“I also was thinking about science centers and how they reveal things to us that we normally don’t see – microscopically, atmospherically, or phenomenonologically. This led me down the path of imagining looking up and experiencing flowers from under them, as if you were the scale of a small insect.”
The Washington company, Silicon Energy, manufactured the 4W solar panels, and a total of 270 were added onto the top of the flower petals. Beneath the panels are LEDs in fiberglass domes, which change color at night and beam at each other for over five hours each night. Each flower also has a sound element. The sounds are triggered by motion sensors located at the base.
Curious visitors can view these interesting sculptures for free when visiting the Seattle Center grounds, as they are situated next to the Pacific Science Center’s gates and close to the famous Space Needle. While Corson still views his design solely as art, the Pacific Science Center believes it serves a dual purpose by teaching citizens how solar power works and that renewables play a key role in our future. India’s living solar trees can also be placed into the same category.
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