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

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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Urban Activation, Pride Square Beacon

Sibling cubes notionally ‘migrate’ from the central tower and come to rest in many places in the urban environment.

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.

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

Urban Activation, Pride Square Beacon

Sibling cubes notionally ‘migrate’ from the central tower and come to rest in many places in the urban environment.

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.

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