Pride Square Beacon

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Client

Inner West Council

Services

Interpretation/Art

Sector

Government
Cultural

The stacked cubes public artwork, ‘Pride Beacon’, is a three-dimensional geometric interpretation of the ‘Progress Pride Flag’ and references the ‘Square’ in ‘Pride Square’. Sibling cubes notionally ‘migrate’ from the central tower and come to rest amongst the adjacent urban environment. These cubes act as breadcrumbs leading the way to the central beacon and provide amenity for people to dwell and sit.

The Pride Square beacon was unveiled by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as part of the Inner West Council’s World Pride launch at Pride Square on 11th February 2023.

The project was re-conceptualised from a rainbow pathway installation to a highly visible, three-dimensional presence for a more monumental and placemaking focus. The brightly coloured cubes contrast with the gritty urban landscape of Newtown.

The public art installation is paired with other design elements. Timber seating clusters, designed by Environmental Partnership, scattered through the square and embedded into stairways echo the informal and temporary ambience of the milk crate, providing places to sit, watch, and gather both during World Pride celebrations and after. The square forms intersect at different heights to create varied opportunities for sitting, gathering, and watching.

The project addressed a range of objectives, from creating identity and character to activating tired and inactive spaces.

Bringing visibility to, and acknowledging, LGBTQIA+ residents of the Inner West area in a prominent place is a key social benefit provided by this project. Additional seating and lighting make the square more functional, safer, and a place to dwell, providing amenity for all users, especially people experiencing homelessness.

Landscape Architects collaborators

Environmental Partnership

Metal fabricator and installer

AGFABS

Lighting

Lighting Art and Science

Timber seating clusters manufacturer

Interspec

Electrical and Data

Sydney Electrical and Data

Pride Square Beacon

Sculpture for World Pride

SUPERSENSE’s self described brief was to bring ‘joyous visibility’ to Pride Square, located in the centre of Newtown in Sydney’s Inner West, and enhance this public space as one where everybody is welcome. The installation provided a backdrop to Inner West Council’s World Pride events in the Square, and continues to play a role in its day to day life.
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Geometric public artwork featuring a series of stacked cubes representing the LGBTQIA+ flag within Newtown Square, a vibrant example of public art strategy
Conceptual drawing of the public artwork and its relationship to the surrounding landscape and seating boxes
Sibling cubes notionally ‘migrate’ from the central tower and come to rest in many places in the urban environment.
Public artwork situated among colourful seating cubes throughout Newtown Square
Close-up of the public artwork and the overlapping colourful cubes
The Pride Square beacon was unveiled by the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as part of the Inner West Council’s World Pride launch at Pride Square.
Large yellow seating cube positioned atop a brick wall as part of public artwork and street furniture, enhancing urban activation
Pink seating cube atop a brick wall included in the public artwork against the backdrop of Newtown Road
Geometric public artwork captured from across the road in front of a historic building, providing colour and contrast
Red seating cube partially embedded in the ground, as part of public artwork and street furniture against the backdrop of Newtown Road
A series of timber seating cubes cascading down steps to create informal seating and gathering spaces in the square
Nighttime image of the geometric public artwork featuring stacked cubes representing the LGBTQIA+ flag, enhancing cultural immersion experience
SUPERSENSE’s self described brief was to bring ‘joyous visibility’ to Pride Square, located in the centre of Newtown in Sydney’s Inner West, and enhance this public space as one where everybody is welcome. The installation provided a backdrop to Inner West Council’s World Pride events in the Square, and continues to play a role in its day to day life.
+ Read More
Geometric public artwork featuring a series of stacked cubes representing the LGBTQIA+ flag within Newtown Square, a vibrant example of public art strategy
Sibling cubes notionally ‘migrate’ from the central tower and come to rest in many places in the urban environment.
Conceptual drawing of the public artwork and its relationship to the surrounding landscape and seating boxes
Public artwork situated among colourful seating cubes throughout Newtown Square
Close-up of the public artwork and the overlapping colourful cubes
The Pride Square beacon was unveiled by the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as part of the Inner West Council’s World Pride launch at Pride Square.
Large yellow seating cube positioned atop a brick wall as part of public artwork and street furniture, enhancing urban activation
Pink seating cube atop a brick wall included in the public artwork against the backdrop of Newtown Road
Geometric public artwork captured from across the road in front of a historic building, providing colour and contrast
Red seating cube partially embedded in the ground, as part of public artwork and street furniture against the backdrop of Newtown Road
A series of timber seating cubes cascading down steps to create informal seating and gathering spaces in the square
Nighttime image of the geometric public artwork featuring stacked cubes representing the LGBTQIA+ flag, enhancing cultural immersion experience

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