2025 UP IN THE AIR 
LOCUS AMOENUS
Location
MONADNOCK

The Locus Amoenus is an ancient concept from classical literature, especially poetry and rhetoric. It describes an idealized natural setting, a place of beauty and harmony where people could find rest and inspiration. Traditionally, it consists of four key ingredients: the shade of trees, lush greenery or meadows, fresh water in the form of a spring, river, or fountain, and the gentle presence of birdsong or other sounds of nature. In Latin, Locus Amoenus translates directly as “pleasant place” or “delightful spot.”

Throughout history, this idyllic image has served as a powerful literary theme. In Greek and Roman poetry, it evoked feelings of peace, love, and safety. In medieval and Renaissance literature, it became a familiar backdrop for romance, reflection, and encounters between characters. The Locus Amoenus was never just a setting — it was a promise of harmony, a symbolic retreat from the noise of the world.

This installation brings that timeless idea into the present, creating a contemporary oasis in the heart of Yerevan. It offers a sudden slice of paradise within the everyday city, inviting passersby to pause, reflect, and step away from routine. Here, one can find silence, meet others, or exchange thoughts in an atmosphere of semi-seclusion — an illusion of beauty held within the urban realm.

The classical elements are transformed in playful, modern ways. The element of water reappears as a mist installation, cooling the hot summer air. Shade is provided by tall, sheltering vegetation. Greenery unfolds as a carpet underfoot, signaling entry into another, dreamlike world. Instead of birdsong, the gentle hum of human culture arises through gatherings, lectures, and musical performances.

For Monadnock, temporary public installations like this are more than architectural gestures. They are living laboratories — spaces where collective behavior and urban experience can be tested, observed, and celebrated. Across different cities and contexts worldwide, such projects open up moments of wonder and connection in the flow of daily life.