Dezeen Magazine

Delirious frites by Les Astronautes

Les Astronautes fills Quebec passageway with swimming pool toys

Canadian design collective Les Astronautes has lined a disused alley in Quebec with hundreds of protruding pool noodles.

Delirious frites by Les Astronautes

Laval University School of Architecture graduates Gabrielle Blais-Dufour, Robin Dupuis and Alexandre Hamlyn from Les Astronautes won a competition to create an installation in a narrow space between two streets.

Delirious frites by Les Astronautes

"The intervention takes advantage of the anonymity and the narrowness of the site," the trio said. "The contrast with the historical surroundings attracts people to discover this forgotten space in the city."

Delirious frites by Les Astronautes

They lined the length of the passage between two buildings with wooden panels that reach well above head height.

Delirious frites by Les Astronautes

Hundreds of pink and orange tube-shaped pool noodles, normally used for staying afloat in the swimming pool, are slotted through holes in the pink-painted panels so they droop into the alley.

Delirious frites by Les Astronautes

"The piece creates a total environment that throws passers-by into a completely different world," said the designers.

Delirious frites by Les Astronautes

Visitors walking between the colourful walls can touch and hide amongst the foam tubes, which were positioned in patterns across the surfaces using software including Grasshopper and Rhino.

Delirious frites by Les Astronautes

"The large number of pool noodles generates a colourful atmosphere reminiscent of summer that also has something uncanny, organic and lifelike, almost like vines in a jungle," the designers said.

Delirious frites by Les Astronautes

The title Delirious Frites is taken from the French term for the pool toys: "frites de piscine", which translates as "pool chips".

Delirious frites by Les Astronautes

Lighting on both walls illuminates the piece so the alleyway can still be used at night.

Delirious frites by Les Astronautes

The installation was built for a public art festival called Les Passages Insolites, curated by local organisation Exmuro.