ARCHITECTURAL FOCUS
THE ORB
FUTURISTIC ORB TRANSFORMS GOOGLE CAMPUS
Commissioned by Google and designed by Marc Fornes / THEVERYMANY, The Orb is a monumental pavilion in Mountain View, California. This 10-metertall, 26-meter-wide, ultra-thin aluminium structure serves as the centrepiece of the public plaza at Google’ s Charleston East Campus. Its undulating, surreal form embodies the spirit of innovation and creativity central to the company’ s work culture.
The Orb lies somewhere between a pavilion and an art installation.“ For architects, we’ re too much of an artist; for artists, too much of an architect,” says Marc Fornes. What is essential for his studio is that the object is both functional and capable of provoking emotion and sparking naive curiosity. While The Orb performs as a place for encounters and contemplation, its organic form provides visitors with a dreamlike experience.
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