Spherical iGuzzini Headquarters Shaded by a Massive Prismatic Fabric Screen

Spanish lighting manufacturer <a href="http://www.iguzzini.com/html/en/index.html" target="_blank">iGuzzini</a> is getting ready to move into their new headquarters outside of <a href="http://inhabitat.com/barcelonas-beautiful-martinet-school-boasts-a-sun-shielding-ceramic-facade/">Barcelona</a>. The fantastical ellipsoid building, designed by <a href="http://www.miasarquitectes.com/proyectos-ficha.php?id=25" target="_blank">MiAS Arquitectes</a>, is like a balloon hovering over the ground and taking in light and and views of the external environment from all angles. Even cooler, part of the exterior of the office building is covered in a textile <a href="http://inhabitat.com/multi-hued-kuggen-building-the-cog-features-a-rotating-photovoltaic-shade-screen/">shade screen</a> designed to protect the interior from overheating without losing out on views and natural light.

The 9,000 sq m office space started construction in 2008 and is getting close to completion. A large underground space provides for storage, parking, showroom, auditorium and technical services.

Above, the roof serves as an exterior technical floor and works like an outdoor showroom.

Finally, the slightly deformed sphere with a bulge on the south serves as the office space.

Inside a large central void built from a single column forms the spine of the building from which all floors radiate out from.

Natural daylight pours in through the central void as well as the exterior spherical walls providing greater control over the amount of energy used.

The exterior of the building is surrounded by an exo skeleton frame and on this, a large fabric shade screen has been installed on most of the exterior to minimize solar heat gain.

This protects the interior office space from glare and overheating and improves the interior light quality for an improved showroom experience.

Construction begins with the central cylindrical column.

The column supports all the floors and pulls light down from above into each space.

The floors are constructed in a slightly deformed spherical shape.

The sphere is built on top of a large underground space.

The central supports at the top of the building.

Looking into the void.