Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec: Nuage, 2017

Before Paseo Ponti, the clouds seemed only to be moved by the wind.

Nuage is an organic pergola designed by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec that brings shade, shelter, seating and charm to the Paseo Ponti in the Miami Design District. Like ivy that grows along the street, Nuage engages with buildings and facades, creating a natural relationship with the surrounding architecture. The sun shines through the steel and colored glass structure that mimics cloud apertures, casting graphic shadows that vibrate with blues and greens like stained-glass windows crossed by the sun in cathedrals. Native plants envelop Nuage, with trees jutting through the structure to the sky. Over time, Nuage will gain depth and patina, vines will colonize the system, encircling the quiet ponds, plant beds and freeform concrete seating arranged along the path. Mineral and heavy, these shapes contrast the stainless-steel roof onto which the environment, the sky, the vegetation are reflected. The reflection resonates with the changes of day, with the seasons, inviting relaxation, reflection, and respite from Miami’s bright sun.