Experience "Light Itself" by Being Enveloped in Radiance

This booth design was inspired by the crystal facets of Swarovski. The "Sparkle Wall," a connected structure of LED strobes resembling a crystal lattice, emitted a strong, elegant radiance, creating a space of grand curves and dynamic light.

By enveloping visitors in light, the design allows them to experience "light itself" as if entering the world of crystal's brilliance, expressing Swarovski's pursuit of beauty and its "world of sparkle" rather than mere surface design. It embodies "Wings of Sparkle," a powerful and beautiful shimmer, much like the elegant unfurling of a swan's wings on a lake.

Tokujin Yoshioka Explains the Swarovski Project

──Where did you draw inspiration for this booth design?

I was inspired by "random natural light and sparkle," such as light reflecting on water and the twinkling of stars.

──What is the original idea behind it?

The surface of the facade, forming a vast curve, is constructed from hexagonal metal reflective panels, processed with mirrors, symbolizing Swarovski's facets. Approximately 23,000 of these panels come together to create a massive wall. Over 250,000 LEDs are skillfully integrated into the reflective panels, projecting images that, through computer programming, emit random, dazzling light, much like the surface of water.

──What elements from Swarovski did you incorporate into the booth design?

The history of Swarovski's sparkle and its pursuit of beauty through brilliance.

──How long did it take to arrive at this design?

Since November 2011.

──When participating in this project, were you involved in the entire process or just the design aspect?

I was involved in the entire process, from the initial design proposal to the completion in April 2013.

Individual Sparkles Overlap to Transform into Great Wings of Light

──Were there any limitations during the production of this work?

Not limitations, but for the "Sparkle Wall," we conducted extensive experiments on how the light should behave to envelop visitors in radiance. That process was truly a challenge. It was made possible through the collaboration of Swarovski's technicians.

──Why is it called "Wings of Sparkle"?

It's inspired by the elegant flutter of a swan's wings, a symbol of Swarovski. The facade, with its grand curves and dynamic light space, expresses the world of Swarovski crystal's brilliance. The "Sparkle Wall" emits a strong, elegant shimmer, like the wings of a swan.

──You mentioned "poetically expressing light." How is this conveyed through the booth?

Individual beautiful sparkles overlap to transform into great wings of light.

──What are Swarovski crystals to you?

After studying Swarovski's history and experiencing the crystals themselves, I became captivated by the charm of their sparkle and poetic beauty, born from transparency. I am fascinated by the poetic transparency and the beauty of Swarovski crystals as a material – transparent in themselves, yet capable of capturing light and brilliance.

Tokujin Yoshioka on His Collaboration Projects with Swarovski

──You have undertaken numerous collaborations with Swarovski. Could you tell us about them?

I have collaborated on the "Swarovski Crystal Palace" project three times. Our first collaboration with Swarovski was "STARDUST" in 2005, a futuristic chandelier where each crystal emitted light via fiber optics, projecting images. In 2008, I created "Eternal," a chair made from Swarovski's largest crystals, and in 2010, "Steller," inspired by an artificial star emitting countless powerful light rays.

In 2010, I designed Swarovski's first flagship store, "SWAROVSKI GINZA," under the design concept of "Crystal Forest." I aimed to create a space that evoked the feeling of being lost in a crystal forest. The building's facade, its most distinctive feature, is composed of nearly 1,500 relief sculptures of stainless steel mirrors that reflect light from every angle. Designed to resemble a cascading waterfall of crystals, it mirrors the surrounding landscape, creating a mysterious expression that constantly changes with the time of day, from morning to night.

In 2009, I designed the Basel booth "Lake of Shimmer." The facade was adorned with 160,000 small mirrors, reminiscent of the beauty of crystal's sparkle. As they swayed in the wind, they brought a shimmering effect to the booth, like sunlight rippling on the surface of a lake.

And in 2012, the special model watch "LAKE OF SHIMMER"-AVANT Time N˚ 3 was released. The watch face is crafted from a single piece of crystal cut into 12 facets, embodying Swarovski's poetic and elegant essence, where the passage of time is expressed through these twelve shimmering facets. The bracelet, constructed from small, reflective stainless steel hexagonal panels, draws inspiration from the facade of the 2009 "Lake of Shimmer" booth.