Aren’t those Giant Binoculars something? These aren’t just any binoculars. They mark the entrance to a parking garage. The Giant Binoculars Sculpture is more than just art. It’s a functional part of the building.
This building is unofficially known as the Binoculars Building. Its official name was formerly the Chiat/Day Building. The building was completed in 1991. It was originally built for the Chiat/Day advertising agency. Today, it houses offices leased by Google.
Frank Gehry designed the Binoculars Building. He sought to connect two very different structures. His solution was a giant random object. Artists Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen designed the Giant Binoculars. They became the building’s focal point.
These aren’t ordinary binoculars. They stand over 44 feet tall. They are 18 feet deep and set into the building’s walls. The Giant Binoculars serve as the entrance for both cars and pedestrians. You actually drive between the lenses to enter the parking garage.
The Giant Binoculars are constructed on a steel frame. Concrete and cement plaster cover the frame. Elastomeric paint provides the finishing touch.
Inside, you will find unusually shaped rooms. These rooms open onto a conference room. Each room features a huge elongated lightbulb. The lightbulbs hang from the ceiling.
Google has leased 100,000 square feet in the building. They also occupy two adjacent properties. The Binoculars Building fits Google’s taste for whimsical structures. Frank Gehry’s design adds to its cachet.
Some consider the Giant Binoculars a roadside attraction. It’s a great spot to snap a photo. However, security may question you, so be quick.
So next time you’re in Venice, check out the Giant Binoculars Sculpture. It’s a unique blend of art and architecture. This is a world record holding sculpture, and you can drive right through it.