Two art installations to pop-up in downtown Calgary after winning design competition

Two temporary art installations will live in Calgary’s downtown in the coming weeks, thanks to a contest run by the city and Chinook Blast festival.

‘Serenity Passage’ and ‘Dot Spot’ were chosen as the winners of the 2025 Winter City Design Competition, a competition launched in 2021 to encourage artists, architects, and designers to reimagine Calgary’s outdoor spaces for winter.

“Calgary’s future success relies on downtown being a place for Calgarians and visitors to live, work, learn, play and shop year-round,” says Kate Zago, Project Lead, Winter City Design Competition. “We’re thrilled to once again partner with Chinook Blast and showcase the incredible and imaginative designs that will bring light, energy and joy while redefining what it means to thrive in the coldest months of the year.”

Serenity Passage will be located at 826 8 Avenue SW from Jan. 15 to April 15, according to the city. The temporary installation features over 200 blown glass rondels created in collaboration with glass artists from Calgary and surrounding areas.

The rondels are arranged in an illuminated archway to form a seven-foot-tall, five-foot-wide passage accessible to everyone, regardless of mobility level.

Those who enter the Serenity Passage will experience an immersive environment with a glowing glass dome, encased in plexiglass.

Leah Pertucci, lead designer of Serenity Passage, says she looks forward to showing Calgarians the beauty of glass blowing through her art.

“[I] hope to create conversation, evoke thought and provide a chance for people to connect with their city – and one another – in a completely different way,” she said.

One of the designers behind Dot Spot, Joshua Clarke, says his team is passionate about how design can bring people together.

“We’re excited to unveil Dot Spot and offer a new destination to the downtown that encourages people to stay, connect, and celebrate winter together,” he said.

Dot Spot will be located on the Bow River Pathway, near 6 Street SW, beginning in February.

The design is inspired by the snow sled or flying saucer; rooted in childhood memories of tobogganing, the sled is repurposed and rotates in a pavilion.

More than three dozen submissions were made to the contest.

Chinook Blast runs downtown from Jan. 31 to Feb. 17.

For more information, visit chinookblast.ca