The challenge was to amplify The Orb’s natural form, while ensuring seamless integration within the site. Lighting energy appears to originate from within, spilling out into the landscape through integrated details, carefully balanced with the building’s lantern-like glow in the background. Designed by a world-renowned artist, it serves as a striking architectural centerpiece within this technology campus in Mountain View, California. This 10-meter-tall open-air pavilion, crafted from an ultra-thin, self-supported aluminum shell, features intricate folds and tiny perforations that create a dynamic interplay of light and shadow. The innovative design is elevated by a lighting scheme that blends natural and artificial light to enhance the sculptural pavilion’s visual and structural complexity.

During the day, sunlight filters through the perforations, casting intricate patterns on the ground and within the pavilion, accentuating its fluid form. As night falls, strategically placed LED uplights illuminate the structure and perforated surfaces with warm white light, emphasizing its curving folds and accenting its contours. At times, it appears like a living organism — a coral reef static in movement, but vibrant with life and energy within. The balance between subtle highlights and moments of shadow transforms the pavilion’s sculptural experience. Softly glowing with textural intricacies, it draws your attention from all perspectives across the site.

Advanced programmable controls allow for dynamic dimming, adapting to seasonal conditions while maintaining energy efficiency.

Lighting enhances the architectural beauty of The Orb, creating a memorable experience for campus employees, as well as local community residents living in nearby neighborhoods, who pass through on a daily basis. The interplay of light and material brings out the unique textures and shapes, reflecting innovation, artistry, and technology.