Concrete World

摘要

Scottish artistic studio Dalziel + Scullion has unveiled a new permanent sculpture for the city of Dundee. Catalyst takes the form of a life-sized car that has been draped in a cloth and cast in pollution-absorbing cement. The TX ACTIVE cement used performs a strange alchemy; hidden within its make-up is a catalytic material (titanium dioxide) that reacts with light to trigger the molecules of airborne pollutants, such as nitric oxides, carbon monoxide and sulfur monoxide to break apart and release oxygen back into the air. This is the first completed project in the UK using this material. It was originally formulated to be used as paving in congested urban areas to improve air quality. Powderhall Bronze made the mould for the project and Border Concrete designed the formwork with assistance from PERI and engineer Arup. The work has been commissioned by Dundee City Council for a location at Greenmarket multi-storey car park in the city centre, an area overlooked by the Dundee Contemporary Art Centre and the city's Science Centre.