The Orb
Location
Mountain View, CA
Completed
2024
Size
33 Feet Tall
Owners
Architect
The Very Many
Awards
2024 LIT Design Award – Outdoor Light Art Installation
Photographer
© Younes Bounhar / Doublespace
Design Team
The Orb is a new pavilion designed by Marc Fornes of The Very Many, which serves as an architectural centerpiece at Google’s Charleston East Campus in Mountain View, California. Standing 10 meters tall, this ultra-thin, self-supported aluminum shell structure features intricate folds and tiny perforations that create a dynamic interplay of light and shadow.
The lighting design for The Orb aims to enhance itsorganic and twisting shapes, emphasizing its visual and structural complexity. Utilizing both natural and artificial lighting, the design integrates seamlessly with the pavilion’s perforated surfaces to produce a captivating effect of light and shadow. During the day, sunlight filters through the perforations, casting intricate patterns on the ground and the inner surfaces. At night, strategically placed LED lights highlight the structure’s contours, transforming The Orb into a luminous landmark.