Date: 26 September 2007
The installation, commissioned by AGC Flat Glass Europe to mark its rebranding (from Glaverbel) and the centennial of the AGC company, is a concrete reflection of AGC Flat Glass Europe’s corporate mission to ‘make the world a brighter place’. Located in the central reservation of Avenue Franklin Roosevelt (1), the 100 trees will add a splash of colour to the Brussels cityscape and provide a surreal focus for residents and commuters as they pass by the 1,100 meter stretch of the road during the two weeks of the installation.
The installation specifically aims to engage citizens in suggesting how, through steps great and small, together we can help combat climate change to make the world a brighter place. AGC Flat Glass Europe for example has a long tradition in investing in innovative products that help cut CO2 emissions. As a further concrete measure of helping make the world a brighter place, the installation also serves as a vehicle of support of the International Polar Foundation: one week following the end of the installation, seven of the trees — one of each colour, each serial-numbered and autographed by Alain Hubert — will be auctioned on eBay, with all proceeds of the sale going to the International Polar Foundation.
To underscore the environmental message, the installation has been timed to coincide with Brussels’ car-free day, on Sunday 23 September, when Brussels residents are invited to come along to any of the three booths along the length of the installation and leave their wishes on how to make the world a brighter place. These wishes will then be printed onto glass panels and distributed among the 100 metal trees that will record the wishes for all to read. People can also register their wishes for the trees at www.brighterplace.eu (live from 21 September). The installation kicks off with the wishes of famous architects and AGC employees from around Europe.
About AGC Flat Glass Europe
A leader in the European flat glass market, AGC Flat Glass Europe is the European branch of AGC Flat Glass, the world’s largest glassmaking group. It produces and markets flat glass for the building sector (external glazing and interior decorative glass) and for specialised industries. AGC Flat Glass Europe employs some 10,700 people throughout Europe, from Spain to Russia, where it operates 18 floats and more than 100 sites. Through its international commercial network, AGC Flat Glass Europe products are sold all over the world. Thanks to its policy of sustained research, it is the European leader in advanced glass technologies such as antibacterial glass and coated glass. For more information, visit: www.agc-flatglass.eu (corporate site) and www.yourglass.com (architecture and interior design products).
About the Alain Hubert International Polar Foundation
The International Polar Foundation communicates and educates on Polar research as a way to understand key environmental and climate mechanisms. The International Polar Foundation believes that the polar regions and polar sciences are the best tools to convince our society to act now in order to mitigate the effects of climate change for future generations. The IPF also promotes innovative and multifaceted responses to the complex challenges raised by the need for action on sustainable development. The IPF is headquartered in Brussels and has local antennae in France, Switzerland and in the United Kingdom. The development of Canadian and US antennae is currently in progress. For detailed information please see www.polarfoundation.org.
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