The Experiential Design Index

Exhibiting the Universe — Griffith Observatory

Exhibiting the Universe, over 20,000 sq ft of permanent astronomy exhibits at Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, California, opened November 2, 2006 as part of the observatory's renovation and expansion, with exhibit design by C&G Partners (then Chermayeff & Geismar) and building architecture by Pfeiffer Partners (as Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates) with Levin & Associates Architects.

VenueGriffith Observatory
Project typeNew Exhibition
StatusCompleted
Year completed2006
TechnologiesPepper's Ghost dioramas, interactive kiosks

Credits

FirmRoleNote
C&G Partners Exhibit Design Designed as Chermayeff & Geismar, the firm's name prior to its C&G Partners rebrand
kubik maltbie Fabrication Credited as Maltbie, Inc., selected 2004; the firm's name prior to its Kubik merger
pfeiffer-partners Architecture Project architect for the observatory renovation, as Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates
levin-and-associates-architects Architecture Associate architect for the observatory renovation

Description

The exhibition spans the observatory's public spaces with the "Big Picture" (a 150-foot porcelain enamel wall bearing the largest astronomical image ever created at the time), sculptural planetary models, the Hall of the Eye with Pepper's Ghost dioramas on the history of observation, an interactive periodic table with elemental samples, a scale model of the solar system built into the sidewalk paths, and outdoor elements aligned to solstices and equinoxes.

Sources