The Orb

Location

Mountain View, CA


Completed

2024


Size

33 Feet Tall


Owners

Google


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.




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