Over the weekend, the famous tourist town of Bruges—known for its enchanting canals, Belgian chocolate, and starring role in the movie In Bruges—kicked off the second edition of its Contemporary Art and Architecture Triennial. Themed Liquid City | Vloeibare stad, the event has returned with surprising installations by an international roster of celebrated artists and architects, spread across the historic cityscape. 

Over 15 works have been commissioned by curators Till-Holger Borchert and Michel Dewildel, their marks and temporary modifications opening up both lesser-known and iconic places around the city for new opportunities. Inspired by the Polish-born British sociologist Zygmunt Bauman—who, coining the term liquid modernity, believed that change within modern society was constant and relentless—the curators wanted to build hospitable public spaces that demonstrate "a fluid city, open and involved."

One such project making a splash, is SelgasCano's pavilion: a twisting, translucent red bubble, floating along Bruges' picturesque canals. Known for their use of synthetic materials and new technology, the duo's pavilion features a signature transparent skin, similar to that used in their 2015 Serpentine Pavilion, that turns pink or orange according to the sun’s position. Placed over a rebar steel skeleton, the team created a tunnel-like structure large enough to host dozens of people. Adjacent yellow decking encourages locals to take a dip, turning the pavilion into a swimming pool for locals and visitors to enjoy.

Running through mid-September, other projects at the triennial this year include a bridge that cannot be crossed by the Polish artist Jaroslaw-Kozakiewicz; a concrete portal by the Belgian contemporary artist Renato Nicolodi; a giant whale made from plastic waste collected from beaches in Hawaii by US architects Studio KCA; and, a triangular wooden structure called the MFS III Minne Floating School, by the Netherlands-based Nigerian architect Kunlé Adeyemi, who showed a similar project at the 2016 Venice Biennale.