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Uber 5

When Uber took over the 5th floor of their building at 1455 Market Street, the idea of Paris meets Bladerunner became the design concept. The floor was designed with ten neighborhoods, each of which was named after a science fiction novel. 

Several of these neighborhoods have seating carrels with custom designed upholstery. For Contact, a pattern representing the first 26 prime numbers was created to look like a sound visualizer.

The pattern inspired by Ender's Game represents a well-known military maneuver that is utilized by the novel's protagonist Ender Wiggin. 

These patterns were engraved into leather upholstery using a CNC router at a minimal depth so that just to finish on the leather is removed creating a subtle change in texture.

Other patterns inspired by the novels 2312, Ringworld, The Diamond Age, and The Martian were used to upholster carrels throughout the floor. 

Another client request was that a focal point be created on one 70 foot wallin the space. This 'Hero Wall' became a lighting installation using 40 neon tubes, each of which is connected to a motion sensor. As a person walks in front of the installation, the neon lights up in sequence, following the person, creating an effect that might be found in a science fiction film.

Photography by Jasper Sanidad