vanceva green glass interlayers on audrey irmas pavilion

Nov 05, 2024

With its striking geometry and glowing green interlayer accents by Vanceva, the OMA-designed Audrey Irmas Pavilion in Los Angeles, California, stands as a captivating example of modern design and historical architecture coming together. The Pavilion not only serves as a functional space for religious and cultural activities but also as a testament to the transformative power of design. The architecture is accentuated by Eastman’s cutting-edge color interlayers for laminated glass that complement the facade’s complex structure and offers a green-bathed space which further pays homage to the adjacent temple‘s dome.

the Audrey Irmas Pavilion is surrounded by green glass made with eight layers of Vanceva PVB interlayers | all images courtesy of Vanceva

The company behind the eye-catching glass features of the pavilion is Eastman, known for its Vanceva PVB interlayers, which enable architects to explore new possibilities in laminated safety glass. Vanceva specializes in offering both aesthetic flexibility and safety, creating colored glass interlayers that have been used in architectural projects worldwide. Offering over 69,000 transparent, translucent, and solid color options, Vanceva allows for the customization of glass in a way that enhances both the form and function of a building.

With the Audrey Irmas Pavilion, Vanceva once again demonstrates its ability to elevate a project by combining performance with artistic expression. The World of Color Awards™ celebrate the creative use of Vanceva interlayers, and the pavilion’s bold incorporation of green glass is a perfect reflection of the company’s mission to push boundaries.

Vanceva demonstrates its ability to elevate a project by combining performance with artistic expression

Designed by Shohei Shigematsu of OMA in collaboration with Gruen Associates of Los Angeles, the Pavilion is a 55,000-square-foot structure intended to host a variety of events, from religious ceremonies to community performances. Its trapezoidal form, punctuated by geometric windows and a recessed green glass terrace, creates a dynamic visual counterpoint to the Byzantine-revival architecture of the neighboring temple. The facade, a mosaic of hexagonal shapes and muted tones, sets the stage for the green glass elements that highlight the building’s modern identity while paying homage to the green dome of the adjacent temple.

‘Outstanding. Such powerful pops of color contrasting the light-colored fractal facade. The simplicity of the green has a dramatic impact and meaningful connection to the existing green dome roof next door. Took a simple concept, and went big with it while keeping the purity of the design,’ says WOCA juror Joe Jacoby about the pavilion.

‘the simplicity of the green has a dramatic impact and meaningful connection to the existing green dome roof next door,’ says WOCA juror, Joe Jacoby

The heart of the pavilion is found in its three distinct gathering spaces. The ground-floor grand ballroom, with its barrel-vaulted ceiling and Gaboon wood paneling, offers an inviting space for large celebrations. Above, the building’s rooftop terrace provides uninterrupted views of Los Angeles, the Hollywood Hills, and the surrounding mountains. However, the most notable feature lies in the second-floor Diane and Guilford Glazer Chapel – a green glass space created using eight layers of Vanceva PVB interlayers combined with a metal mesh.

To go into further detail, the pavilion’s use of color, particularly the laminated glass, was expertly integrated into the building’s design. Fabricated by Goldray Glass and installed by Steel City Glass alongside MATT Construction, the glass units of the chapel and the West Terrace create a sense of harmony between the old and the new. ‘Color laminated glass was not simply used to add color; it was used as a painting and volumetric medium to color the different recesses within the building and complement the composition,’ expressed WOCA juror, Firas Hnoosh.

the pavilion’s use of color, particularly the laminated glass, was expertly integrated into the building’s design