Refuge was a living public art installation at the corner of 25th and Lake Streets in North Omaha. The project was a 1500 sq ft garden on an empty lot. The garden served as peaceful, sensory rich public space and a lifeline for migrating birds and insects. As urban decay gives way to demolition and open lots of lawn, Refuge re-imagined what might be possible as a more valuable land use solution in a location near the Missouri river, a major migration route.
As the plants grew, two distinct rooms were created by the species’ undulating heights. A room inside 12 foot annual sunflowers served as a shaded respite on hot days. A second, more intimate, space was created with plants that evolved to release fragrance that seduce night pollinators and humans alike. Refuge celebrated beauty, provided a space for wonder, and referenced some of the critical habitat once common along the Missouri River.