Now a global phenomenon, the annual Burning Man festival's biggest allure is the site's complete transformation into a temporary city filled with installations and large-scale constructions that are burned at the end of the week-long event.
Grabbing media attention every year, one of 2018's most anticipated structures has been Bjarke Ingels' pet project—a massive reflective ball hovering above the playa. Together with fellow BIG partner Jakob Lange, the two set up an Indiegogo campaign back in July to raise the last leg of funding for the installation.
Asking $50,000 to help with materials and construction, the campaign is still live as the pair have yet to meet the total goal. Despite not reaching it, however, the Orb still managed to make it to Burning Man this year. Kicking off over the weekend with thousands of burners descending upon Black Rock City, the large metallic sphere has successfully risen above the arid desert. Below, you can see the progress shots of its construction.
That's no moon.
All 14 Comments
Looks just like the rendering
LOL
I'm honestly shocked that this is a reality but based on the pictures it looks pretty cool!
In fact IMO it looks better than the rendering!
I believe that the primary purpose behind this was to reflect the campus in a mirrored finish. At the moment, it is non functional in that regard although I suspect that these photos show it dustier than expected or un-washed in general. Ultimately, this will be an utter disappointment if it doesn't achieve its purposeful mirrored finish...
That's no moon.
NASA Echo 1 Mylar balloon satellite, also 100 feet in diameter. Circa 1960.
Awesome!
Looks dusty.
BIG is the annoying frat boy firm of architecture
Hating on BIG is the new loving BIG. They do some good work, some bad.
Not fond of most of their work, but fond of this one.
This is a clear sign that Burning Man is now just another corporate PR event.
<sigh>
A friend of mine went in 1998 and and I was so jealous of her. Now it's like the last place I would ever want to have to be.
"Burning Man is *over*" -Said at the 2nd Burning Man.
https://elseplace.blogspot.com...
10 years ago it won me a lot of condemnation in private. Now it's a standart BM item.
Not impressed, but that 1960 pic was worth the admission ticket.
Looks better than the rendering.
what leads you to believe that?
My expert opinion.
the dust really changes the effect, but the test is amazing. As a proof of concept for the urban planning project they did with the same balloon mirror in Oslo (I am guess-membering) it is seriously impressive.
burning man is a weird thing. I know enough people who are near to the core from way back that I know it has to be an honest thing, but when they decided to make it into a money project a few years ago it lost some of its shine. Still amazing, immpressive, etc. But also in the end also sooo white, so disengaged, etc. That is the bit that doesnt make sense, cuz burners are otherwise very much engaged with the world.
the bro vibe is also crazy high lately. This seems a kind of accidental marketing error...?
Burning Man is a fun-house mirror held to San Francisco. Yes, it attracts people from all over the globe, but the character of the event will always be reflective of what's been happening in the Bay Area.
Now that SF is full of wealthy tech bros, so is Burning Man.
The dust has a major impact on this project. BIG’s concept placed a lot of importance on the reflections as a means to connect the community, but the dusting (as it appears in images) seems to create an obscured impression of an empty landscape which Burning Man aims to leave behind.
Interesting. Like the Bean/ Cloud Gate in Chicago, I guess.
Still, you gotta guess there's a lot of dust and smoke on and around those folks themselves.
Is it filled with hydrogen and then burned like the Hindenburg?
Isn't it helium? (Archer reference)
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