A giant 100-foot-tall "disco ball" is heading to Burning Man this year
A beacon for all on The Playa
A giant, 100-foot-tall mirror ball is set to be a beacon for festival-goers at the upcoming edition of Burning Man this year.
Constructed by a group of artists and architects led by Danish architects Bjarke Ingels and Jakob Lange, the structure is essentially an inflatable, 30-ton disco ball called The Orb. It's scaled to 1:500,000 of the earth’s surface with a diameter of nearly 100 feet. When built, it will be supported by a 105 foot long inclined steel mast.
The project leaders have described their vision for The Orb and what they hope it will be for all who visit the yearly gathering at Black Rock Desert in Nevada: "The ORB is a mirror for earth lovers - reflecting the passing daytime, evolving life and other art works beneath it - a new planet to sci-fi fans, a wayfinder for travelers or just a huge disco ball to those who love a good party!
"Visible from most of The Playa, it will help Burners navigate the desert and find way. At night, the ORB will blend entirely into its surroundings and become part of the desert. The ORB is a tribute to mother earth and human expression - designed to easily inflate and deflate, leaving no trace on the Playa."
According to The Orb's indiegogo crowdfunding page, the artists have accumulated funding for the majority of the steel materials and 1000 hours of welding, as well as 1500 sewing hours. Now they are seeking an addition $50,000 to finish the project and ensure it arrives safely at Burning Man.
Watch the video below to see a 3D artist rendering of The Orb.
For more on Burning Man, view Mixmag's favorite photos from the history of the gathering and read about how it plans to expand to 100,000 attendees this year. Also, watch a live stream of Pachanga Boys on top of the iconic Burning Man artcar called Mayan Warrior here