Go to content Go to main menu Go to search

Los Angeles International Airport

Los Angeles - USA

Parameters

About

Crystal Swell

Preciosa’s brief was to create a dynamic installation that attracts travellers from three levels and can withstand up to seven degrees on the Richter scale. This was a design, engineering, construction and installation challenge that required multiple Preciosa teams to contribute their creativity and know-how. Crystal Swell is the perfect example of our ‘challenge accepted’ way of thinking.

The luminaire features timeless and elegant clear optical glass and polished stainless steel. It is created from three flexible metal ribbons lined with crystal cut prisms.
The Construction team built a metal structure for the middle of the installation and then securely attached the crystal ribbons to this stable tube. This satisfied the design requirements and the safety issues.
Viewing Crystal Swell from the bottom gives a unique perspective of the swirls.

Video

Watch the story behind Crystal Swell

Experience Preciosa Lighting's latest dynamic lighting installation. For the Los Angeles International Airport we created a custom 17-metre crystal installation able to withstand an earthquake up to 7 degrees on the Richter Scale. Watch this video and let yourself be swept away by a sparkling crystal swell!

Discover how a challenging lighting project comes to life. Crystal Swell stretches 17 metres through three levels of an airport, and can withstand an earthquake up to 7 degrees on the Richter Scale. See how Preciosa Lighting's teams worked together to bring this lighting vision to reality.

Video 1 / 2

Video (2)

Signature Design - Inspiral background

Project in numbers

  • 4 000 kilograms
  • 65 metres of crystal ribbon
  • 7 degrees on the Richter scale
  • 17 metres high

Crystal Swell

Crystal Swell-wave

Dynamic ocean theme

Ocean waves and the romance of travel collide in a swirl of crystal in west gates at Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Crystal Swell

Created to amaze

Preciosa Lighting worked with Corgan in association with Gensler, who supplied the project’s architectural and interior design services, to create a dynamic installation that attracts travellers from three levels.

Research and development

Designed to endure

The seismically active issue was one of the first challenges the design team had to tackle. The installation had to withstand up to seven degrees on the Richter scale.

Inspiral moodboard

Inspired by Signature Design

The client really liked our Signature Design Inspiral so we used that as our inspiration for the design,” said Ms. Olivová. The design concept the teams worked on was called ‘ocean swell'.

Lighting

Lighting possibilities

RGBW LED strips were added for an extra sense of connection and fun. The airport can create various dynamic lighting scenes to celebrate local or global events. This addition makes Crystal Swell an attraction travellers will seek out.

Crystal Swell A swirl of crystal

Designers

Who is behind the project

2000x2000-Olivova-retus

How to create an original, interesting, and feasible design? These are the main questions Šárka deals with in her work.

The seismically active issue was one of the first challenges the design team had to tackle. Preciosa Designer Šárka Olivová worked closely with the in-house R&D team to ensure the planned design, materials, and fixings were not only attractive to look at but safe as well.

Šárka Olivová Preciosa Lighting Designer

Reference

Client says

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

We looked for not only incredible design solutions but a company that understood what it would take to construct, to manufacture and certify the installation. Preciosa ranked top in all the criteria we established. Preciosa envisioned what we were looking for and was innovative in how they designed the fixture itself.

Brent Kelley Managing Principal and Co-head of the aviation sector at Corgan

Contact

Are you interested in cooperation. Need more information? Let us know.

Downloads

Project information & photos

Do you like this piece of art? Share it with world.

By e-mail Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Pinterest

Discover more references

See all references