David Bestué & Langarita Navarro. Gran Rosal

An initiative by AECID and the Spanish Embassy.

Gran Rosal is the project through which artist David Bestué and architects Langarita Navarro wanted to bring a touch of Spain to the square that bears its name in Brussels. The idea to create an artificial rose garden, composed of hundreds of rose petals gathered locally, arose in this urban space, created following the construction of an underground parking garage that could not be planted. The installation aims to bring the image of the Spanish Mediterranean to Belgian soil. The work has a dual purpose. On the one hand, it aims to restore the square and activate it outside of daylight hours by creating a large-scale lighting element. On the other hand, it aims to design a scenic structure that will serve as a meeting place and stage for small-scale cultural activities. The installation, located opposite the existing staircase—which has been transformed into a natural grandstand—will host performances, lectures, concerts, and neighborhood gatherings. Moreover, Gran Rosal is a tribute to all the emigrants who left Spain during Franco’s dictatorship and to all the Belgian emigrants who moved to Spain in search of warmth and light. This is a two-way artistic exercise that helps define a part of our country’s history through political emigration and tourism.

The rose garden, a shared space in the Spanish and Belgian parks, takes the form of a large L-shaped volume covered with undulating sheets of resin and freeze-dried rose petals in various shades of red, creating a vibrant pattern on the surface. The freeze-drying and encapsulation process in the resin preserves the petals and maintains their color throughout the installation. The work functions as an “artificial rose garden,” a contemporary garden that replaces the natural green with a chromatic and translucent texture, seeking a contrast between the petal, an organic and fragile element, and the prefabricated appearance of the corrugated sheets and the metal structure that supports them.

The structure is shaped at a 90-degree angle, formed by two 11-meter-long arms with a stage between them. At nearly 10 meters tall, the installation rises above the surrounding urban barriers, inviting the public to enter the square. The work consists of 168 undulating panels featuring four shades of petals. Thirty-six adjustable LED tubes illuminate the walls, creating a backdrop for the scenic activities. Despite its scale, the installation appears lightweight thanks to the translucent combination of the panels and the metal and wood scaffolding system.