Designed by the UK-based studio NEON, Chorus Ventus is a distinctive plant-inspired kinetic installation that brings movement and imagination into the landscape. Created as the dynamic centerpiece of the reimagined Children’s Garden at Lauritzen Gardens. The project is a result of an international open call seeking a sculpture that could captivate young visitors while harmonizing with the surrounding botanical context. Situated at the garden’s highest point, the installation functions both as a striking landmark and as an interactive element within the landscape that responds to wind, motion, and the playful curiosity of the onlookers visiting.
The design draws inspiration from the ecology of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem that once stretched across much of central North America. Early explorers famously described this landscape as a “sea of grass,” where winds swept across endless fields of wildflowers and grasses in constant motion. Reflecting this natural rhythm, the installation gets its name, Chorus Ventus, Latin for “Dance of the wind.” As visitors move through the Children’s Garden at Lauritzen Gardens, the sculpture gradually moves along a spiraling ramp. The installation stands gracefully, offering a quiet moment of reflection within the garden’s lively and playful landscape.
The installation unfolds as a striking composition, formed using 151 curved steel stems radiating outward from a central point, forming a sculptural form that is fluid and unified. The stem elements vary in height and angle, creating a rhythmic and colorful landscape that reads less as individual pieces and more as a single living form swaying in harmony. At the tip of each stem, a flexible glass-reinforced polymer (GRP) rod holds a colored bell, allowing the structure to gently respond to wind and movement. The elements create a dynamic and kinetic installation, transforming environmental forces into a striking sensory experience.
One of the installation’s most captivating qualities is its expressive use of color, which deepens its connection to the natural landscape. The form is composed of steel stems that shift radially and gradually, from soft pink at the core to lush green along the outer edge, mirroring the subtle tones found in prairie vegetation. The form appears like a sculptural flower blooming from the garden and is woven into the landscape. As visitors move closer, however, the form reacts rhythmically to the environment, revealing the intricate design behind the vibrant form.
Movement and sound play a vital role in shaping the sensory experience of the installation. The flexible rods respond delicately to both wind and human touch, allowing visitors to gently set the elements in motion at ground level. As the rods sway, subtle waves of movement ripple through them, while the small bells softly chime against them. This gentle interaction creates a quiet, immersive soundscape, evoking the soothing rustle of wind drifting through tall prairie grasses.
The installation’s architecture was developed using advanced design tools, including Rhinoceros 3D and Grasshopper 3D, enabling the team to shape its complex geometry with precision. The structural system was designed to endure Nebraska’s demanding climate, from intense summer heat to freezing winters and powerful storms. Each curved stainless-steel stem is anchored below ground with a custom two-layer baseplate that distributes structural loads across the foundation. The stems are finished with a resilient powder coating, while the glass-reinforced polymer rods are fully pigmented and treated with a UV-stable finish, ensuring durability and a projected lifespan with minimal maintenance.
Chorus Ventus Project Details
Project name: Chorus Ventus
Location: Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Architect: NEON
Year: 2025
Photography: Tom Kessler
