NASA Orbit Pavilion, a new structure designed by StudioKCA in collaboration with the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and sound artist Shane Myrbeck, looks to give visitors the experience of being surrounded by the sounds of satellites in space when it opens on Oct. 29 at The Huntington Library.
The idea behind the design of the structure was to mimic the experience of holding a seashell to one’s ear and hearing the ocean, but to do so on a much larger scale. Visitors won’t just hold this giant cosmic shell to their ears, they will walk inside of it and be met with “a symphony built out of the sounds of satellites in space,” according to Jason Kilmoski, Principal of StudioKCA.
Consisting of 28 speakers spatially arranged to mimic orbits, the pavilion acts as a sound chamber as satellites, represented by distinct, artistically created sounds, seem to swirl around visitors from above, below, and to all sides. There are 20 unique sounds in total, representing the International Space Station and 19 earth satellites.
The physical design of the structure also reflects the paths of space satellites. 100 orbital paths are cut via water jet into the 3,500 sf of aluminum panels that cover the aluminum framework of the pavilion. The design also minimizes external noise and decreases wind loads to make the experience for those within as immersive as possible.
The NASA Orbit Pavilion debuted in the summer of 2015 at the World Science Festival at New York University and will be on display at The Huntington Library until Feb. 27, 2017.
Click here to listen to the “symphony” of satellites.
Related Stories
Architects | Nov 18, 2016
A Frank Lloyd Wright building in Montana will soon be demolished, or will it?
The building is one of only three Frank Lloyd Wright-designed buildings in the state.
Architects | Nov 11, 2016
Six finalists selected for London’s Illuminated River competition
The competition is searching for the best design for lighting the bridges of central London.
Healthcare Facilities | Nov 10, 2016
Prescription for success: Managing technology in the design of healthcare facilities
While the benefits of intelligently deployed technology are abundantly clear to both designers and healthcare end-users, it’s no simple task to manage the integration of technology into a building program.
Industry Research | Nov 4, 2016
New survey exposes achievement gap between men and women designers
Female architects still feel disadvantaged when it comes to career advancement.
Architects | Nov 2, 2016
NCARB launches ARE 5.0
The newest version of the exam required for an architecture license, ARE 5.0, launched on Nov. 1.
Architects | Oct 24, 2016
Winners of the 2016 AAP American Architecture Prize announced
The AAP recognizes the most outstanding architecture worldwide across three disciplines: architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture.
Architects | Oct 21, 2016
A process of analysis and synthesis gives architects and designers the information they need to create
Sometimes people look only for the simple answer and don’t understand that there is a calculated process to get there, writes HDR’s Lynn Mignola.
Architects | Oct 21, 2016
The AIA Innovation Award Recipients have been selected
The program honors projects that highlight collaboration between design and construction teams to create better process efficiencies and overall costs savings.
Higher Education | Oct 20, 2016
Designing innovative campuses for tomorrow's students
Planning for places that foster effective innovation is still an emerging process, but the constant pressure on universities to do so continues from two of their key institutional constituencies—students and employers, writes Perkins+Will's Ken Higa and Josh Vel.
Data Centers | Oct 14, 2016
Where data centers meet design
As technology continues to evolve, we have to simultaneously adapt and help our clients think beyond the short term, writes Gensler's Martin Gollwitzer.
