National Geographic's first annual "Evening of Exploration" begins with the 400 guests enjoying cocktails in a tent in the courtyard of the society's headquarters. Bar-height black mirror tables are topped with cascades of succulents and abstract florals in bulbous glass containers filled with milk, to look like jellyfish washed ashore.
2012_Syzygy_02
The event team creates a "beach" atmosphere; the handmade back bar is decorated with seahorse-like creatures made from old CDs and DVDs.
2012_Syzygy_03
A platform spans the courtyard's fountain, bordered by giant boulders, creating a place for guests to mingle on white leather furniture groupings.
2012_Syzygy_04
The white Lucite bar glows with blue light.
2012_Syzygy_05
Another view of the cocktail area.
2012_Syzygy_05A
Guests follow a Caribbean blue carpet into the main building, where they are greeted with oversize images from National Geographic explorers' undersea expeditions.
2012_Syzygy_06
Lucite columns flank the entrance to the "sea floor."
2012_Syzygy_07
The columns are filled with sparkling crystals and mirror pieces, like bubbles underwater, flanked by Morning Glory creatures, fabric jellyfish and free-standing undulate forms.
2012_Syzygy_08
Another view of the entrance to the "sea floor."
2012_Syzygy_09B
The "before": The society's plain Jane cafeteria, which the event team transforms into ....
2012_Syzygy_09C
... the stunning sea floor.
2012_Syzygy_10
The event team creates an aquarium-like experience with decor cascading from the ceiling, enveloping the perimeter and "growing" from dinner tables.
2012_Syzygy_10A
Hand-cut fabrics suspended from the ceiling mimic sea grasses.
2012_Syzygy_12
Custom screens, 180 feet wide and 14 feet tall, cover the cafeteria's windows and enable the event team to project videos of sea life--filmed by National Geographic explorers--throughout the evening.
2012_Syzygy_13
Tables--a mixture of rectangles, squares and rounds in translucent, transparent and reflective surfaces--create a sense of movement and mysterious light.
2012_Syzygy_14
Centerpieces resembling coral reefs seem to "grow" out of center of the table and up to the ceiling, adding to the guests' sense of being on the ocean floor. Custom Manzanita branches are dusted in blue and green and encrusted in shells and "coral," which was actually made from resin.
2012_Syzygy_15
Centerpieces incorporate shells, "coral," moss, eucalyptus and horse-tail fern, accented with candles.
2012_Syzygy_16
A longer view.
2012_Syzygy_17
Clear glass tables with chrome bases feature hanging arrangements of foliage unwinding from the ceiling canopy.
2012_Syzygy_19
Custom lighting replicates the effect of changes in daylight underwater. The ceiling and tables are washed in cool blues, greens and purples while the perimeter of the room is uplit in both stagnant and color-changing LED fixtures.
2012_Syzygy_20
Some 6,000 yards of different fabrics were hand-cut by the event team to create the undersea stalactites and sea grasses.
2012_Syzygy_21
A glowing table.
2012_Syzygy_22
The back wall is decorated with a "reef"--made from paper plates and coffee filters--decked with sea urchins, barnacles and coral in a collage with National Geographic images of sea life. Tiling CDs created a reflective surface that gave the appearance of fish scales.
2012_Syzygy_23
The mix of reflective table surfaces helps bounce light around the room, giving guests the sense of being on the ocean floor.
2012_Syzygy_24
A long view.
2012_Syzygy_25
For more examples of beach-theme events, click here. For more beautiful Photo Galleries, click here.
