Do you wonder what those metal or concrete posts obstructing the driveways, parking lots, building entrances and public sidewalks are called? They can be called metal or concrete posts but the correct term for those small structures are bollards.
Bollards can be made of various materials like concrete, timber, iron, steel, stainless steel, polyurethane and ferrocast. It can also look like the common and ubiquitous cylindrical post that juts out on the pavement, looking very bland and uninteresting.
I have seen many bollards in various cities and they all look boring. These small obstructions need not be simple or lacking the flair it should have because it can also pique the interests of passersby, especially if you are a business owner who has bollards installed in front of your store.
Some very creative and enterprising businesses, schools and communities have installed bollards that are not only used to protect the perimeter but also to provide amusement and added drama to an architectural edifice. However, some bollards are just artistically designed and manufactured to make the community more aesthetic. Here are some creative and artful bollards installed in various cities around the world.
Paris, France
These collection of “Angry Lego” bollard art will be installed in Gallery Joseph in Paris this month until 22 December. This collection is the artistic work of an artist by the monicker of Le Cyklop.
The second and third pictures are another collection of Le Cyklop. They are installed all over metropolitan Paris. Photos below are credited to The Cyklop.
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| CartoonStreet by The cyklop / Rue René Goscinny, Paris 13e / Photo © The cyklop |
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| The cyklop 2013 / Passage de la Gare in Aulnay-sous-Bois |
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| Photo credit: http://www.family-getaways-melbourne.com/ |
Glasgow, Scotland
These colorful and very vibrant bollards with mosaic ceramic tiles are found in Glasgow, Scotland. The bollard with a witch and a broomstick make a good Halloween prop.
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| Photo credit: Owner-Allan Campbell/Kentigern Flickr/ taken from mosaicartsource.wordpress.com |
Singapore City, Singapore
These cute Minions bollard art are created by Ernest Zacharevic as commissioned by most private owners. His works can be seen around Victoria Street in Singapore.
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| Photo credit: news.asiaone.com |
