FUNCTIONAL FUN

In Bellevue, Washington, MARC FORNES / THEVERYMANY has completed PILOTI, an ultra-thin aluminum rotunda that rises as a new entrance to the city’s Downtown Park. Commissioned by the City of Bellevue, the self-supported structure unfolds into an umbrella-like canopy and acts as a shelter that invites visitors into the park. The work combines architectural ornament and structural ingenuity in a single gesture, framing the passage from city to green space.

Standing 7.2 meters tall, PILOTI is composed of 6,665 unique aluminum parts connected with 180,900 rivets. Its form aggregates multiple umbrellas into one circular surface, held aloft by a ring of slender, stiletto-like columns. Atop each column, twisting capitals grow upward, folding structure into ornament and transforming the space around them into a flowing geometry. Along the perimeter, cantilevered folds terminate in scalloped finials that contribute to structural stability and recall the ornamental detailing of historic marquees.

The New York-based team at MARC FORNES / THEVERYMANY pierces PILOTI’s surface with thousands of tiny perforations, a feature that began as a pragmatic aid for construction but evolved into a play of illumination. By day, the canopy scatters light into dappled patterns that drift across the ground, while by night, it becomes a glowing lantern, guiding visitors into the park with a gentle radiance.

The installation is intended as a civic living room in Bellevue, Washington, accommodating everything from casual encounters to community celebrations. Its open canopy sets the stage for weddings, birthdays, reunions, or simple pauses of reflection beneath its airy geometry. 

PILOTI
LOCATION Bellevue Downtown Park, Washington
ARCHITECT MARC FORNES / THE EVERYMANY
PHOTOGRAPHY Younes Bounhar