Google’s “The Orb” offers space for reflection

The Orb, a new pavilion on Google's Charleston East Campus, intrigues and captivates. Conceived as an “anchoring artwork” for the tech giant, the installation began life as an international, open competition for architects and artists organized by Burning Man on behalf of Google. The result, selected from 45 semifinalist proposals during a six-month process including a public vote, stands at the entrance to the company's complex in Mountain View, California. Designed by New York-based computational design experts The Very Many, led by founder and architect Marc Fournes, it elegantly marks the point where public and private space intersect.

“The Orb”, Google Headquarters Pavilion by The Very Many, USA

The work stands tall and dramatic in its twisted, organic forms, which stretch to a height of 10 m. It is made of an ultra-thin, self-supporting aluminum shell structure in a brilliant white tone. Its folds and countless tiny perforations create a complex play of light and shadow. The slender pieces of the “puzzle structure” were laser-cut and powder-coated in Europe and shipped to California during the pandemic – a logistical challenge in itself, Fournes emphasizes.

Conveniently placed in the open plaza, the structure is designed to provide a moment of “productive distraction.” “Beneath The Orb's airy and acrobatic minimalist surface, we created a shadowy moment where you can slow down while staying connected. Inside, the riveted surface and non-linear environment draw attention and distract you from your devices,” the architect explained. “We call it 'visual wandering' – the journey your eye takes to understand an unfamiliar space. It's our meditative challenge to the viewer to figure out how everything fits together, recognize the continuities between the pieces, and discover new details while finding unique perspectives each time you return.”

The newly unveiled commission was awarded to The Very Many in 2018 and benefits from Fournes' extensive experience in computer-aided design gained at architectural firms such as SOM, Ross Lovegrove and Zaha Hadid Architects, blurring the lines between art and architecture.