Bubbles is an adaptable spatial pneumatic installation at an urban scale. The installation consists of large pneumatic volumes that inflate and deflate in reaction to the visitors coming to the site. If unoccupied the volume of the site is slowly filled by the spatially distributed sacks creating a translucent bubble translucent infill. As the occupants enter and move through the installation, they bump the bubbles ranging from 6′ to 8′ in diameter that fill the lower layer of the space. More activity opens up the space more making it navigable. Sensors in the bubbles cause a fan in the manifold to transfer air to the bubble.

Link to process blog

Client: Materials and Applications Gallery (Jenna Didier and Oliver Hess)
Design: FoxLin (Michael Fox and Juintow Lin, NONDesigns (Scott Franklin and Miao Miao) and Brand Name Label (Gabriel Renz), Axel Kilian, and Darius Miller
Sponsors: Annenberg Foundation, Pasadena Art Alliance, Fountainhead, Dazian Fabrics (rip-stop fabric), M&K Metal (very discounted steel), Furniture Technologies, Inc (all CNC of plastic).
Photography: Rob Kassabian
Fabrication Team: So many talented volunteers!