Client: Acclaim Companies

Overview

Brilliant copper petals come together to form this transcendent sculpture for the lobby of 855 Main, a mixed use building in the heart of Redwood City, California. Bougainvillea, a well-known ornamental flowering bush found throughout California, served as inspiration for the piece. The 10-foot diameter sculpture can be seen from the street through the glass façade as well as from numerous locations within the building itself, serving as the keystone of the lobby gallery. The sculpture is composed of 18 perforated aluminum petals with a bright, anodized copper finish.

Goals

855 Main is a historic building that was remodeled into high-end offices and retail space, appointed with modern finishes and abundant natural light from a vaulted glass ceiling. From the onset, the primary goal of the project was to design a suspended sculpture to serve as a focal point for the lobby, joining a collection of artworks within the reception area gallery. Careful consideration was made to complement the existing artwork to create a cohesive collection. Creating an organic and “airy” design was critical to successfully integrating the artwork into the space and maintaining the lobby's bright and open feel. The perforations create transparency through the sculpture, allowing for an unobstructed sightline from the second-floor interior windows to the outside, while creating fascinating moiré patterns where the pieces overlap.

Process

DES Architects + Engineers served as the point of contact for the project and worked closely with us to interpret the client's design goals. The client gave us a generous degree of aesthetic choice, which we utilized through the unique abstraction of bougainvillea flowers in bloom. Collaborating with the architect gave us a better understanding of the history of the building, allowed for custom lighting solutions, and ensured the seamless integration of the sculpture into the space.