architecture

extremely impressive shiny balls

by deputydog ⋅ 08 / 03 / 2008 ⋅ post a comment


photo sources: (clockwise from top) 1, 2, 3

the enormous 34m ( not ft as i previously put. excuse my ignorance) diameter shiny ball pictured above goes by the name of ‘la géode’. this stunning metallic structure houses a 1000m² hemispheric imax screen at the ‘cité des sciences et de l’industrie’ in paris. it was designed in 1983 by french architect adrien fainsilber and then realised by engineer gérard chamaillou. it’s apparently one of the largest geodesic domes on earth.

seeing this beauty brings to mind what must surely be the most aesthetically incredible planetarium in the world: l’hemisfèric in valencia…


photo sources: (clockwise from top) 1, 2, 3

known by many as ‘the eye of knowledge’, l’hemisfèric planetarium was the first building to be finished as part of valencia’s city of arts and science, a complex designed by super-architect santiago calatrava who is the genius also responsible for, amongst others, the turning torso in sweden and chicago’s upcoming supertall skyscraper, the chicago spire. ‘the eye’ even blinks (albeit quite slowly) by way of hydraulics to reveal the spherical planetarium inside, the reflection of this in the surrounding pool of water cleverly resulting in the illusion you see above.


photo source

discussion

23 comments for “extremely impressive shiny balls”

  1. incredible

    posted by Krishna | 8th of March, 2008, 5:40 pm

  2. La Geode on gmaps:

    http://maps.google.de/maps?ll=48.894533,2.388644&spn=0.01,0.01&t=h&q=48.894533,2.388644

    posted by squirrelpimp | 9th of March, 2008, 3:18 am

  3. What about the Chicago Bean?

    http://upload.pbase.com/image/70573630/original.jpg

    posted by Ben | 9th of March, 2008, 3:39 pm

  4. The one in the Vatican courtyard is also pretty sweet, but it’s not nearly as huge as any of these. Thanks for sharing these images.

    posted by Fronz | 9th of March, 2008, 5:33 pm

  5. i wish my balls were that shiny

    posted by Mooti | 9th of March, 2008, 5:37 pm

  6. freakin’ awesome

    posted by celsius | 9th of March, 2008, 6:00 pm

  7. These are all beautiful! But I think the top one is especially gorgeous. I would love to see that in person.

    Fort Worth, Texas

    posted by Judy Hendricks | 9th of March, 2008, 6:15 pm

  8. amazing…
    My friend on Tallmeet.com said she’s been there…that’s a really good

    posted by lily | 9th of March, 2008, 6:46 pm

  9. dude where is my shiny ball

    posted by t-goof | 9th of March, 2008, 9:03 pm

  10. what about the http://images.google.be/images?hl=nl&q=atomium&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi
    now that are a lot of shiney balls

    posted by nope | 10th of March, 2008, 1:00 am

  11. City of Arts and Science - Valencia

    http://maps.google.de/maps?f=q&hl=de&geocode=&q=ciudad+de+las+artes+y+las+ciencias,+valencia&sll=39.460451,-0.335598&sspn=0.03976,0.09407&ie=UTF8&ll=39.456972,-0.355425&spn=0.009941,0.023518&t=h&z=16

    posted by pebs | 10th of March, 2008, 1:02 am

  12. Wonderfull images. I live in Valencia and Calatrava’s building is really beautifull

    http://www.juzamdjinn.blogspot.com

    posted by duhu | 10th of March, 2008, 1:11 am

  13. It’s a Bobble! (ref: Vinge)

    posted by Mike | 10th of March, 2008, 8:43 am

  14. I have been in Valencia recently, Calatrava rules!

    Great blog, by the way…

    posted by qfwfq78 | 11th of March, 2008, 11:38 am


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