In the swinging 1970s, inflatable architecture — along with geodesic domes and conversation pits — was all the rage. But over the past few years we’ve seen a resurgence in pneumatically powered structures, which are actually surprisingly functional as temporary event spaces. The latest? Aeropolis, a big, reflective community centre that’s been popping up all over Copenhagen this month.
The 28sqm space was designed by an architecture firm that specialises in inflatables (they’re called Plastique Fantastique, because of course). The cool thing about the installation, which is part of Copenhagen’s Metropolis festival, is that it’s never going to appear in the same place twice. All in all, it’ll move to 13 different locations around the city, occupying a different function each time. In a handful of videos already uploaded to the architects’ Vimeo, the bubble hosts a church service, a party, martial arts practice, and game space. And more events are in the pipeline (so to speak), as the architects explain:
The scenography changes with every new place, there’s meditation and yoga by the lake, it opens up towards the sky above us in a cemetery, it invites us to a soundless discotheque at one of the noisiest intersections in the city.
The architects of the 60s and 70s imagined pneumatic structures fulfilling all kinds of radical purposes — from cleaning the air to providing dwellings for the families of the future. And while Aeropolis might not be sparking a complete social revolution, throwing parties and hosting concerts ain’t bad, either. Check out some of the coolest videos of the space below.
The inflation process:
The bubble serving as a performance space inside a church:
And as a party space:
And as a space for people to play Carrom, the Asian shuffleboard-esque game:
Check out the rest of the videos here. [Plastique Fantastique via DesignBoom]