World’s Largest Walk-Through Kaleidoscope Accentuates Saudi Arabia’s Natural Habitat | Stufish

The leading stage architecture studio Stufish has designed the world’s largest kaleidoscope measuring 40 m long and 6 m high. Installed at the 2022 One Giant LEAP technology conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the mirrored installation showcases the ever-shifting images of the country.

The world’s largest kaleidoscope measures 40 m long and 6 m high.

One Giant LEAP is an annual event that brings together technology professionals from around the world. Informa approached Stufish to design an installation to kick start the event by creating an accompanying content for it. Inspired by the natural stratification of Saudi Arabia, the Kaleidoscope takes visitors on a journey from the bottom of the sea to the sky and stars above the Arabian Peninsula. As the largest kaleidoscope in the world represents the transformation of the country by exposing its viewers to the natural environment and resources of Saudi Arabia, the London-based studio artistically adopted sustainability and efficiency into the core of its design.

The entire structure has been developed with the help of 3D Max software and virtual reality headsets to verify the effects.

LED tiles on the floor and end wall in the company of mirror foil outlines the space. The Kaleidoscope is designed with seamless and warp-less mirrors to achieve an ever-expanding environment, which was the main challenge of this architectural installation. The use of Showtex mirror foil product turned out to be a thoughtful solution to this problem. Additionally, the challenge to create an entry exit design which would not disrupt the seamless content reflected within the Kaleidoscope was achieved by the two triangular entry and exit portals at either ends.

The mirrored installation showcases the ever-shifting images of Saudi Arabia.

The Kaleidoscope highlights how much could be achieved using very little. The use of mirror foil rather than fabricated elements in glass or steel makes the installation lighter, making it weigh 15 kg. The entire structure has been developed with the help of 3D Max software and virtual reality headsets to verify the effects. This technique also helped produce the content and patterns with smooth transitions.

Informa approached Stufish to design an installation to kick start the event by creating an accompanying content for it.

The Kaleidoscope takes visitors on a journey from the bottom of the sea to the sky and stars above the Arabian Peninsula.

LED tiles on the floor and end wall in the company of mirror foil outlines the space.

The installation is lighter and weighs 15 kg.

Project details

Creative director: Stufish

Lighting design: Stufish

Sound design: Stufish

Video design and animation: Stufish

Staging supplier: Showtex

Image credits: Stufish