Public Art Installation: Seeing Celsius

Discover heat from a new perspective with Seeing Celsius, a public art installation presented at the Biosphère lookout. Using thermal-imaging technology, the installation allows visitors to observe temperature variations across the urban landscape and discover how the materials that shape our cities influence the way we experience them.

An Installation That Reveals Invisible Heat

We can feel the warmth of the sun on our skin, but what happens when we can actually see heat?

Created by LeuWebb Projects and originally commissioned by The Bentway, Seeing Celsius transforms a familiar panoramic viewfinder into a tool for thermal exploration. Using thermal-imaging technology, visitors can observe temperature variations across Parc Jean-Drapeau as well as the people moving through it.

Looking through the viewfinder, the landscape is transformed into an ever-changing thermal map. Cooler areas appear in shades of blue, while surfaces that absorb and retain heat are rendered in reds and oranges.

By making heat visible, Seeing Celsius offers a new perspective on our environment and raises awareness of the challenges cities face in adapting to a changing climate.

The installation highlights the thermal properties of the materials used to shape urban environments, inviting visitors to reflect on how these materials influence our comfort, our experience of public spaces, and the design choices that will help create more resilient cities.