Hospital (Ground Zero), 2008, all images courtesy Hauser & Wirth Zurich/London and Galerie Daniel Buchholz, Cologne, © Isa Genzken

Currently showing at Hauser & Wirth gallery in London is a series of sculptures by German artist Isa Genzken that are also architectural proposals for Ground Zero in New York. Leave any expectations that this notion may give you at the door, however, for Genzken’s sculptures are far removed from formal architectural models and instead are wild, glitzy forms incorporating materials ranging from everyday household items to flowers.

Despite their chaotic style, Genzken in fact worked with a specialist team of engineers to ensure each model can be realised to the approximate scale of the World Trade Center Towers, and she has also considered their purpose, proposing that the buildings be predominantly social, which goes against the official designs for the site. In this exhibition are sculptures of a church, a hospital, a car park, a disco, a shopping centre, and a memorial tower. Ground Zero in Genzken’s hands would be turned into an exciting, dayglo wonderland.

Genzken’s exhibition is on show until May 17, more info is at hauserwirth.com.

Church (Ground Zero), 2008

Disco ‘Soon’ (Ground Zero), 2008

Light (Ground Zero), 2008

Car Park (Ground Zero), 2008

Memorial Tower (Ground Zero), 2008