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Sphere

ICRAVE, A Journey Studio

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Welcome to Sphere: The main elements that set the stage are layers of light, a continuous reflective floor, and a series of intersecting curved surfaces, which create a sense of limitlessness, velocity and motion. - ICRAVE, a Journey studio
Math graphics are revealed throughout Sphere as easter eggs, which include the equations used for sound and structure technologies that were created to build this groundbreaking project. As you move through the venue, math graphics are revealed through light and reflection. - ICRAVE, a Journey studio
Crossing the threshold is a dramatic exit from the default world.  Guests enter the Sphere and are welcomed into a cosmic realm, where the otherworldly interiors fully immerse you into the future of entertainment. - ICRAVE, a Journey studio
Welcome to Sphere: The main elements that set the stage are layers of light, a continuous reflective floor, and a series of intersecting curved surfaces, which create a sense of limitlessness, velocity and motion. - ICRAVE, a Journey studio

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Comments
Innovation
Functionality
Creativity
Eco-Social Impact
Total
JURY VOTES
Entertainment Venue
6.87
6.89
6.47
5.50
6.43
Arthur Guimarães
Arthur Guimarães Chief Executive Officer at Arthur Guimarães Architects
Impressive project that allows a wi...
9
9
8.5
6
8.13
Mark Eric Magno
Mark Eric Magno Principal at Aedas Interiors
7
7.6
6.5
6
6.78
Jessica Adkins
Jessica Adkins Brand Experience Design Lead Europe at M Moser Associates
7.8
8
7.5
6
7.33
Xuechen Chen
Xuechen Chen Architectural Designer at X.C Studio
As a Vegas entertainment space, the...
8
8
7.8
6
7.45
Josse Popma
Josse Popma Partner at Popma ter Steege Architects
6
6
6
4
5.5
Pooja Shah-Mulani
Pooja Shah-Mulani Partner and Design Director at LW Design
8
7.5
8
3
6.63
Zizhao Li
Zizhao Li Cofounder and Chief Designer at DSC · Design
6
6
6
6
6
Serhii Makhno
Serhii Makhno Founder at MAKHNO Studio
6
7
6
7
6.5
Suvi Saloniemi
Suvi Saloniemi Head of Exhibitions at Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design Museum
6
5
5
5
5.25
Burton Baldridge
Burton Baldridge Founder at Baldridge Architects
It is a space that will make hundre...
7
6
5
4
5.5
Mike McGirr
Mike McGirr Managing Partner and Design Principal at red design
7.02
7.11
7.56
5.85
6.89
Anna Gitelman
Anna Gitelman Associate Professor at Suffolk University
8
8
7
7
7.5
Katie Mitchell
Katie Mitchell Managing Director at Seen Studios
8
9
7
6
7.5
Wenqing Zhou
Wenqing Zhou Founder at Add Culture & Creative Development
6.5
7
6.8
6.5
6.7
Harkaran Singh Boparai
Harkaran Singh Boparai Founder at Space 5
6
5.5
6
5.5
5.75
Yan Zhang
Yan Zhang Cofounder at say architects
6.5
6.19
6.4
6.3
6.35
Jianan Shan
Jianan Shan Cofounder at say architects
3.91
4.22
2.98
3.39
3.63
Comments
Innovation
Functionality
Creativity
Eco-Social Impact
Total
JURY VOTES
Light
7.01
7.07
6.88
6.34
6.82
Arthur Guimarães
Arthur Guimarães Chief Executive Officer at Arthur Guimarães Architects
Great use of the lighting to produ...
8.5
9
8.5
8
8.5
Mark Eric Magno
Mark Eric Magno Principal at Aedas Interiors
7
7.8
6.5
7.8
7.28
Jessica Adkins
Jessica Adkins Brand Experience Design Lead Europe at M Moser Associates
7.5
8
7
7.5
7.5
Xuechen Chen
Xuechen Chen Architectural Designer at X.C Studio
8
7.5
7
7.5
7.5
Josse Popma
Josse Popma Partner at Popma ter Steege Architects
6
6
6
4
5.5
Pooja Shah-Mulani
Pooja Shah-Mulani Partner and Design Director at LW Design
7.5
7
8
3
6.38
Zizhao Li
Zizhao Li Cofounder and Chief Designer at DSC · Design
6
7
6
6
6.25
Serhii Makhno
Serhii Makhno Founder at MAKHNO Studio
7
6
7
7
6.75
Burton Baldridge
Burton Baldridge Founder at Baldridge Architects
7
7
7
7
7
Mike McGirr
Mike McGirr Managing Partner and Design Principal at red design
7.74
7.83
7.83
6.12
7.38
Anna Gitelman
Anna Gitelman Associate Professor at Suffolk University
Lighting is introduced as a major d...
8
9
9
7
8.25
Suvi Saloniemi
Suvi Saloniemi Head of Exhibitions at Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design Museum
6
5
5
5
5.25
Katie Mitchell
Katie Mitchell Managing Director at Seen Studios
8
8
7
7.5
7.63
Wenqing Zhou
Wenqing Zhou Founder at Add Culture & Creative Development
7
7
7
6.5
6.88
Harkaran Singh Boparai
Harkaran Singh Boparai Founder at Space 5
7
7
7
7
7
Yan Zhang
Yan Zhang Cofounder at say architects
5.98
5.98
6.09
5.88
5.98
Jianan Shan
Jianan Shan Cofounder at say architects
5
5
5
5
5
Comments
Innovation
Functionality
Creativity
Eco-Social Impact
Total
GRAND JURY VOTES
Shortlisted - Entertainment Venue of the Year
7.22
7.36
6.97
6.00
6.89
Ronnie Belizaire
Ronnie Belizaire Studio Practice Leader and Principal at HKS Inc.
7
7
6.5
5.5
6.5
Ismael Abedin Ingelmo
Ismael Abedin Ingelmo Founder and Director at DXMID
6.87
7.03
6.5
5.5
6.48
Arthur Guimarães
Arthur Guimarães Chief Executive Officer at Arthur Guimarães Architects
From my perspective, it is a great...
8.5
9
8.5
8
8.5
Pooja Shah-Mulani
Pooja Shah-Mulani Partner and Design Director at LW Design
6.87
6.89
6.47
5.5
6.43
Louisa Fan
Louisa Fan Director of Design Luxury and Lifestyle Brand at IHG ® Hotels & Resorts
6.87
6.89
6.87
5.5
6.53
Client
Sphere Entertainment
Floor area
37160 ㎡
Completion
2023
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Lighting
Finishes
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GFRG Supplier
Specialty Glass Fabricator

The Sphere is a first-of-its-kind venue for live and immersive shows; the future of entertainment. Where revolutionary technology meets mind-bending immersive design. With its epic scale and next-level performance bowl, the interiors and lighting are designed to transcend the ordinary and redefine the guest experience from the moment you enter the venue.

How do you craft an interior experience that matches the magnitude of the building, with never-before-seen technology pushing the boundaries of immersive performance? How do you honor the grandeur of the performance bowl, where mind-bending graphics will transport guests into new dimensions? What next-level F&B offerings can you discover in a 20,000-person venue? The challenge was to pioneer an interior experience that reflects the infinite potential of this venue, where every element contributes to an unforgettable sensory journey.

The design team’s solution: Limitlessness.

Early in the project, the design team was made aware that this is the largest spherical object ever built. They were struck by the magnitude of what this undertaking was

trying to achieve; from an architectural and engineering POV, as well as a technology and experience POV.

The team needed a big idea, they began to imagine the venue as a celestial object in space which would transport guests as soon as they enter. Once you cross the threshold, you are immediately introduced to the idea of limitlessness, velocity, and motion – all which align with the dramatic nature of the vaulted spaces and the experience guests were coming to share.

The interior architecture needed to convey otherworldliness. Three main components were implemented to achieve this goal: the use of continuous curved lines, layers of indirect lighting, and an all-encompassing reflective floor that removes the horizon reinforcing the sense of limitlessness.

Lighting became the cornerstone of every decision. F&B outlets became beacons in a liquid black space, entries became spherical portals to move through. The use of reflectivity became a design element revealing mathematical equations invented to create the venue that is pushing the boundaries of the future of entertainment.

ICRAVE was awarded the commission to design the interior experience of this project. This entailed all the interiors, the lighting and the wayfinding. Knowing that this project was reinventing the live music experience, we understood that the task was to create a world within which this new format could exist.