Olafur Eliasson: Vertical Panorama Pavilion

A bold, conical structure stands on The Donum Estate in Sonoma Valley, casting a vibrant kaleidoscope of 24 colors underneath its canopy. The work of Studio Other Spaces — artist Olafur Eliasson and architect Sebastian Behmann, who co-founded the Berlin-based studio in 2014 — Vertical Panorama Pavilion is inspired by the history of circular calendars, comprised of 832 colored glass pieces arranged around an oculus opening to the north. The 832 colored, laminated glass panels come in 24 color variations, translucency, and transparency, reflecting the surrounding local environment and winery architecture of Sonoma Valley. The journey begins by walking a gravel path, soaking in the sounds of nature, before arriving at the pavilion. Looking up, a circular opening offers a view of the sky from below, while the spectrum of colors from the glass tiles washes over the space and visitors. The 14.5-meter-diameter glass canopy is circular in plan and tapers to a round opening at its highest point, framing northern views of the sky. Under the canopy, circular spaces are carved into the earth to host wine-tasting events. "Vertical Panorama Pavilion is a hospitable space that celebrates the exceptional wine at Donum and the microclimates that created it," said Eliasson and Behmann. "The specific design elements are abstractions of components taken from a vertical slice through the pavilion's location on the Estate. The pavilion maps out the surrounding ephemera — the soil, vegetation, wind, sun, atmosphere, and rain — and incorporates these into the colorful canopy, reflecting the wine's unique signature."