Proposal for Monument Avenue
This design replaces the formal memorial for Jefferson Davis, which was taken down in February of 2022 . In its place, and in the place of all five former Confederate memorials on Monument Avenue in Richmond Virginia, would be public art piece that also functions as a source of energy. Imitating the flowering dogwood tree, Virginia’s state flower, each piece has several solar panels. The energy collected from these panels may be used to power Monument Avenue’s street or traffic lights. If there is excess energy, the sculptures could become spaces charging stations or for battery sharing.
Dogwood Ave
The main focus is renewable energy, as Virginia still uses coal-fired power plants to generate much of its electricity. As the capital of Virginia, Richmond has the potential to lead the state into a carbon neutral future. If we, as a global population, continue to live the way we do, IPCC projections predict a 4 degree warming by the end of the century. The last time the Earth was four degrees warmer there were palm trees in the Arctic. What we do in the next few decades may determine the livelihood of all humans for the next millennium. If we are to have any chance of using design practices to facilitate the prosperity of human civilization, carbon neutral energy sources must be considered normal and necessary.