P.S.1 2010 entry: P.S. 1 out of 7295 by BIG

Pool lounge © BIG

To close our coverage of this years P.S.1 YAP competition we present you BIG’s proposal.

BIG’s invitation to the P.S.1 is not only rare for not being based in NY or in the US (they are based in Denmark), as it has been the common denominator over the years, but also because they have built several small-medium-large scale projects.

But personally, this was the proposal I wanted to see the most: BIG’s P.S.1 out of 7295 is a “cloudscape” formed by
translucent recycled PVC “bubbles”, with a cradle to cradle life-cycle design on which 7,295 bags will be made out of the ballons after the installation, completing the cycle that started as recycled truck bed covers and bags.

Check our P.S.1 coverage (2008 until 2010!) here.

More on BIG’s proposal after the break:

Bar © BIG

How can you make something temporary sustainable?

Bubbles to bags © BIG

Bubbles to bags © BIG

Building something in order to tear it down three months later seems like the epitome of excess and wastefulness. BIG proposes a structure that creates maximum impact with a minimum of means, where human life unfolds to the fullest with minimum material expense. An installation that consists of 99.9% air is formed as a cloud-like landscape for playing, relaxing, and dancing that provides seating, playgrounds, water, shade and light. The P.S.1 installation is conceived as a three-month chapter in the cradle to cradle life-cycle design of the cloudscape. The fabric of the cloudscape is translucent recycled PVC, made from recycled truck bed covers and bags, reducing the environmental impact by 80% on average by eliminating the raw material extraction and production processes.

Bounce © BIG

Pool © BIG

Dance © BIG

The cloudscape is continuous from the entrance to the courtyard, taking on three primary forms – a bubbly dune in the big rectangular courtyard, including a mega air mattress for play and physical activity and a paddling pool surrounded by bouncy seating; a three-dimensional cumulus landscape in the main courtyard with a covered chill out area of air mattresses and beanbags as well as a shaded bar for staff and guests; and a cluster of free floating cirrus clouds above the DJ and dance floor. The cloudscape is composed of spheres of two different sizes made from a composition of identical triangulated S-shapes. After deflation at the end of the season, the S-shapes can be folded into ManhattanPortage Bags. Each bag is given a unique number that is printed on the fabric along with the pattern and folding instructions. After the season the bags can be sold as numbered fragments of the total piece – P.S.1 out of 7295.

The bar cloud © BIG

The disco cloud © BIG

The grotto cloud © BIG

The jumping cloud © BIG

The lounge cloud © BIG

PROJECT: P.S.1 OUT OF 7295
CLIENT: P.S.1 MoMA
SIZE: 1.550 M2
LOCATION: LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK / USA
Partner-in-Charge: Bjarke Ingels
Project Leader: Jakob Henke
Contributors: Daniel Sundlin, Aleksander Tokarz, Alysen Hiller, Xi Chen