Ron Mueck’s extraordinarily detailed, larger-than-life sculptures portray humans in ordinary settings.

Natural light filtering through pieces of plexiglass illuminates this diaphanous installation. Image: Soo Sunny Park

Indonesian photographer Hengki Koentjoro captures ominous underwater scenes, like this swimmer’s encounter with a shark.

Peter Hoffman chemically disturbs serene images of the natural world by dowsing his film in gasoline and setting it on fire.

A beautifully useful home for bees, designed by the students at the University of Buffalo.

Photographer Matt Molloy digitally stacked time-lapse photos to create the smears of color in the skies above this Toronto farm.

Jared Lim’s photography finds beauty in architectural repetition—like the intriguing patterns created by these stadium seats.

Design duo Carnovsky’s light installation at Missoni’s Milan showroom illuminates the company’s classic patterns. Image: Jacopo Farina and Marco Prosperpio

What could be the world’s largest duck—designed by conceptual artist Florentijin Hofman—meanders through Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbor.

Creative studio Marshmallow Laser Feast designed this forest of touch-sensitive lasers.

The work of artist HENSE includes graffiti tags and building-sized murals like this one, at Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola in Lima, Peru.

Parisian artist Thierry Cohen imagines a nighttime view of Rio de Janeiro free from light pollution.

A breathtaking (and perhaps vertigo-inducing) view of Hong Kong’s skyscrapers from French graphic artist and photographer Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze.

A reclaimed wood sculpture offers guests the chance to wander through a cavernous model of the digestive system. Image: Henrique Oliveria

The combination of movement and an LED-enhanced wakeboard create an effect photographer Patrick Rochon calls light painting.

This Mondrian-inspired treat is the creation of Caitlin Freeman, pastry chef at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art’s rooftop garden café.

Molecules are more than the building blocks of life, they’re the inspiration for the building that houses LaTrobe University’s Institute for Molecular Science.

Teams of up to 500 people compete in Tarragona, Spain’s legendary Concurs de Castells—a battle to build the highest human tower. Image: David Oliete

Visitors to Milan’s Salone del Mobile experienced the tranquility of Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec’s Quiet Motion installation.

Cast in violet light, Abu Dhabi’s Sheik Zayed Bridge evokes an undulating sea serpent. Image: Zaha Hadid Architects

Nic Fiddian-Green’s monumental "Horse at Water" sculpture is a stunning complement to the Umbrian countryside.

Sticks of gum make for colorful—albeit unstable—building blocks in this elaborate construction by French artist Jeremy Laffon. Image: The Fox is Black

A dizzying view of a dramatic staircase at London’s St. Pancras Chambers. Image: Hufton and Crow.

Inspired by a carbon molecule, architects Kristoffer Tejlgaard and Benny Jepsen constructed this Roskilde, Denmark dome from prefabricated timber modules. Image: Kristoffer Tejlgaard

The work of Colombian artist Federico Uribe is electric; he uses repurposed objects, such as electrical cables, to arrange elaborate scenes.

The canopies above Jordan’s Queen Alia International Airport were inspired by Bedouin tents. Image: Foster + Partners.

Architects Lily Jencks and Nathanael Dorent used tile to create a mind-bending experience at the London showroom of Capitol Designer Studio. Image: Hufton and Crow

Shadows and light ripple through Landmannalaugar—lava fields near Icelandic volcano Hekla. Image: Helga Laufey Guðmundsdóttir

A pillow fight didn’t cause this cloud of feathers; it’s an ethereal installation by French artist Isa Barbier.

Hundreds of prayer flags—a symbol of blessing in Tibet—offer colorful contrast to a stark winter scene. Image: Elaine Won

Have people been telling you that the light has gone out of your eyes? Designer Soomi Park’s LED eyelashes offer an illuminating solution. Image: Soomi Park

Visitors to the Vieux Port Pavilion in Marseille, France can enjoy two views of the sunny harbor. Image: Foster + Partners

Photographer Tim Flach brings out the inner puppy in this Portuguese Water Dog.

Visitors to the Teton County Library in Jackson, Wyoming, can watch their questions—posted to the digital catalog—transform into synaptic firings across fiber optic cables, illuminated by LED lights. Image: e/b office

It’s no mirage. This handwoven rug by Swedish studio Oyyo has taken flight. Image: David Magnusson

The waters of Hutt Lagoon in Western Austrailia are pink—a naturally occurring phenonmenon casued by algae farmed in nearby ponds. Image: Steve Back

Artist Takahiro Iwasaki sculpts intricate micro-landscapes on everyday objects, like the head of a toothbrush or a roll of tape.

London designers Raw Edges used hundreds of ribbons to curtain the space around the Kvadrat display at Stockholm Design Week. .

Photographer Alan Friedman captured this ethereal image of the sun with a camera and telescope and then finessed it for hours to reveal the fine details.

No need to look for rainbows in the sky in West Bengal, India—home to this multi-hued education building. Image: Abin Design Studio

A colossal statue of the Buddha towers above a man in a coal yard in China’s Ningxia Province. Image: Zang Kechun

A visitor to the ROM for Kunst og Arkitektur in Oslo, Norway, wanders through curtains of light—8,064 points of LED light, to be exact. Image: Squidsoup

Japanese artist Tadashi Kawamata stacked 1,000 chairs to create this intriguing structure at Manarat Al Saadiyat Galleries in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Image: Tadashi Kawamata

A cathedral in Alta reflects the natural phenomenon for which the Norwegian town is famous—the Northern Lights. Image: shl architects

An airplane ride above North Holland tulip fields reveals that rainbows aren't bound to the heavens. Image: Normann Szkop

Dispatchwork, an art collective, enlivens an ancient wall in Bocchignano, Italy, with LEGO tiles. Image: Dispatchwork

Haze above the Yamuna River lends an ethereal glow to the Taj Mahal. Image: Christopher Domakis

These paper heads—cut from the pages of Horizon, a bi-monthly arts journal first published in September 1958—are one in a series of paper doll collages by artist Matt Lipps. Image: Matt Lipps

No fear in waking this sleeping lion, made from squash, sprouts, and banana peels. Image: Carl Kleiner

Artist Tauba Auerbach's book sculptures experiment with the concept of tetrachromatic vision—the ability to perceive four colors instead of the more common red, green, and blue. Image: Vegard Kleven

This man-made cumulus—formed when Dutch artist Berndault Smilde released vapor from a fog machine into a climate-controlled space—existed for mere seconds before dissipating. Photo: Cassander Eftinck Schattenkerk

Cabinets, a refrigerator, boxes, and even an electric piano fill the space between buildings in Rotterdam—a work Swedish artist Michael Johansson calls "Tetris."

Try as you might, you won’t be able to get comfortable in this easy chair, made of paper and occupying an imaginary office crafted by French artist Alexis Facca.

Look closely, notice anything? Artist Liu Bolin hides in the open, camouflaging himself so he disappears into an environment. Photo: Liu Bolin

Heights don’t bother photographer Alexander Remnev, who routinely climbs tall buildings without a harness to snap dizzying photos like this one. Photo: Alexander Remnev

A young Buddhist monk demonstrates his agility in Hunan Province, China. Photo: Steve McCurry

The stacked ice bubbles of Abraham Lake in Alberta, Canada, are a rare phenomenon caused by methane gas naturally released by the lake’s plant life. Photo: Chip Phillips

The world’s smallest deer, the pudu, is just 16 inches tall and weighs 20 pounds. This baby, only one month old, is even smaller. Photo: Jose Luis Saavedra

This runaway tent was able to take flight thanks to some creative photography and a bit of digital manipulation. Photo: Laurent Chehere

Only on close inspection does this swirling, iridescent sphere reveal itself to be an ordinary soap bubble. Photo: Jason Tozer

Every morning, the giraffes of this Kenyan estate help themselves to a table of breakfast treats. Photo: The Safari Collection

The last, foggy remains of night cling to the trees high up in the Polish mountains. Photo: Boguslaw Strempel

Meeting rooms in the New York City offices of Infor are furnished with a mix of contemporary and classic designs, including Eames Aluminum Group Chairs.

An Eames Molded Plastic Chair supplies simple yet elegant seating in the combined kitchen and living areas of this London home.

This compact architectural office has just enough room for its two inhabitants, with the help of small yet supportive furnishings like an Eames Aluminum Group Side Chair. Image: Heather Culp

Simple furniture and sparse décor give this diminutive Belgian townhouse a spacious feel. Image: Tim Van de Velde

Bold artwork and Eames Aluminum Group Chairs add drama to a meeting room at real estate firm Tishman Speyer.

Eames Molded Plastic Arm Chairs offer an appealing place to sit and chat at the colorful offices of design firm Mattson Creative.

This den of creativity is packed with Eames designs. Image: Michael Wells

A glass-floored room with lone Eames Rocker is just one of many enchanting spaces in the Parisian apartment of architect Michael Herrman.

Once a lima bean factory, the 125-year-old offices of design firm Mattson Creative mix contemporary style with vintage flair.

A pair of Eames Rockers grace the elegant living space of this seaside home, designed by French architect Maurice Padovani.

Pacific Helm’s 150-square-foot office accommodates the design studio’s four-person team, all with the help of light, versatile designs, like the Mirra Chair .

This Chicago home office—with an Eames Aluminum Group Chair—is truly the pink of perfection. Image: Northworks Architects

Contrasting furniture tableaus and an open floorplan enhance the dynamic interior in this California home. Image: Dan Brunn Architecture

Kawanishi Fam, a co-working space in Japan, offers entrepreneurs stylish, flexible accommodations, including Eames Molded Plastic Chairs. Image: TT Architecture

One of many beautiful objects on display, a bold Eames Molded Plywood Chair adds spirit to this elegant living room. Image: James Cleary Architecture

A Mirra Chair helps make this Los Angeles home office a comfortable and creative place. Image: Garrett Murray

Multi-colored Eames Molded Plastic Chairs give this living space a pleasing blend of refinement and warmth. Image: Dwell

A splendid view of the outdoors and Eames Molded Plastic Chairs make the dining room the focal point of this chic Australian home. Image: Chris Warnes

Bold color, a sense of humor, and sleek furnishings—including Aeron Chairs—combine to create the distinctive look of JWT Amsterdam’s offices. Image: JWT Amsterdam

An Eames Rocker—the perfect spot to relax by the fire. Image: Buttrick Wong Architects

Red Eames Molded Plastic Chairs and a Nelson Ball Clock add pizzazz to this neutral-hued dining space. Image: Dwell

Setu Chairs offer flexibility and style to this compact home office. Image: Derek Shapton

Eames Aluminum Group Chairs enhance the futuristic vibe of the Roca London Gallery. Image: Hufton and Crow.

A pop of red from an Eames Molded Plywood Lounge Chair offers vibrant contrast to this bedroom’s expansive backyard view. Image: Buttrick Wong

This serene loft is awash with elegant furnishings, including Eames Molded Plastic Chairs . Image: Jonas Bierre-Poulsen

Visitors to this San Francisco home will find wonders both natural and man-made, including an Eames Molded Plastic Chair. Image: inthralld

Students have their choice of places to study, dine, and meet at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s LeRoy Neiman Student Center, outfitted with mobile furnishings like these colorful Caper Chairs. Image: Barbara Karant

An Eames Lounge Chair is one of the many trophies on display in this Atlanta home office. Image: Emily Followill

This palatial Sydney home offers breathtaking views, stunning architecture, and elegant furnishings, like these Eames Molded Plywood Dining Chairs. Image: MRP Design Group

The central meeting room in the offices of Cuningham Group—an architecture firm specializing in sustainable design—features Aeron Chairs and green materials (literally and figuratively). Image: Cuningham Group.

Eames Soft Pad Management Chairs provide the perfect vantage point for viewing films in the screening room of this Tribeca Loft. Image: Roger Hirsch.

The new office of London-based graphic design firm APFEL is simple and clean, with elegant design details, including Eames Molded Plastic Chairs. Image: Nathan Willock.

Neutral-hued Eames Molded Plastic Chairs enhance the elegance of this modern dining room in Toronto. Image: Nick Moshenko

A SAYL Chair makes an elegant focal point in this simple yet funky home office. Image: Joy Street Design

The LEED Gold certified offices of Autodesk in Milan feature plenty of natural light, recycled materials, and Mirra Chairs. Image: Goring & Straja Architects

Illustrator Matte Stephens mixed classic pieces from Nelson and Eames when furnishing his home—a love song to mid-century modern design. Image: Matte Stephens

Multi-hued SAYL Chairs make for a lively meeting room at the San Francisco office of Kixeye, an online gaming company. Image: Edie Cohen, Interior Design.

Eames Aluminum Group Management Chairs look sophisticated anywhere—even at sea, in the stateroom of a yacht. Image: JQB Design

Red décor and an Eames Aluminum Group Management Chair enliven this Chicago home office. Image: Jessica Lagrange Interiors

Visitors to the cavernous library in this Houston home can curl up with a good book in an Eames Lounge Chair. Image: Jauregui

A Nelson Platform Bench and an Eames Molded Plywood Chair lend timelessness and simplicity to this contemporary San Francisco home. Image: Banducci Associates Architects

Residents of this loft in New York City's East Village can slide down to the breakfast nook, furnished with bold Eames Molded Plywood Dining Chairs. Image: Turett Collaborative Architects

Why go outside when you have a faux grass carpet and a Nelson Coconut Chair? Image: Archeus

An Eames Molded Plastic Chair—the perfect seat for rocking a little one. Image: Adrienne DeRosa

Eames Aluminum Group Management Chairs bring bold pops of color to a conference room at San Francisco ad agency KBP West. Image: Jensen Architects

The Delaware home of House Industries' Andy Cruz is populated with vintage Herman Miller, including this Eames Molded Plastic Chair. Image: Rose Callahan

A pair of Eames Lounge Chairs and an Eames Walnut Stool grace a common area at The Innovation Institute in downtown Detroit, a collaboration between Henry Ford Health System and Wayne State College of Engineering. Image: SmithGroupJJR

A look up gives passersby a glimpse of Eames Lounge Chairs in the window of Aether Apparel's new Hayes Valley store, constructed from stacked shipping containers and glass. Image: Aether

An Eames Sofa Compact inhabits a lounge space at ad agency JWT, who recently transformed their New York City offices to enhance mobility and collaboration. Image: JWT

Vintage and contemporary designs merge in this eclectic New York City home studio. Photo: Nick Keppol

A Santa Monica animation studio's new home is a warehouse—repurposed and designed with an eye to sustainability—making the earth-friendly Setu Chair a natural fit. Image: Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio

Nearly all of the furniture in the Ohio State University’s Knowlton Hall is on wheels. The mobility of pieces like Herman Miller’s Caper Chair encourages spontaneous collaboration throughout the building, which serves as both an architectural marvel and a learning space for students of the university’s Austin E. Knowlton School of Architecture. Photo: Ian Allen

Architecture and design firm Gensler’s downtown Chicago office in the Louis Sullivan Building stays true to the look and style of the iconic architect’s work. An open work plan and light, agile seating encourages flexibility and collaboration. Photo: Gensler

A view of London from the contemporary digs of Actis, made more comfortable thanks to the Aeron Chair. Photo: Gensler

A pair of purple Eames lounge chairs and a Central Park view from the Manhattan penthouse of architects Billie Tsien and Tod Williams. Photo: Bryan Derballa

The New York skyline from a corner conference room of the law firm Brown Rudnick. Photo: Gensler

Tired of your desk? At Autodesk you can pull up a SAYL Chair and spend some time working in a community lounge. Photo: Gensler

A classic Herman Miller coffee table and lounge chair make an appearance in this Paris home, once a convent in the heart of the city. Photo: Louis Desrosier

Matching is overrated; an Eames chair with a wood dowel base sits among an artful selection of several designs. Photo: Amy Azzarito

A beautifully renovated home nestled in the wooded hills of Marin County, California, complete with an Eames Lounge and Ottoman. Photo: Bruce Damonte

Pull up an Eames Molded Plastic Chair in this modern dining area. Photo: cargocollective.com

Eames chairs in the cool kitchenette of Pocket Gems, a mobile game developer. Photo: Bruce Damonte