There is something compelling about the way air—an incredibly fleeting and invisible medium—can shape a wide variety of forms. This fascination has captured our imagination since childhood, when we were first drawn to the lightness, color, playfulness, and variety of inflatables.
The ephemeral quality and lightness of air have long inspired architects and artists to work with this medium. It has proven highly suitable for temporary installations and pavilions, allowing them to be easily dismantled and reassembled—or rather, deflated and re-inflated—in different locations. Groups like Penique productions and Plastique Fantastique, for example, work exclusively with inflatable structures. By using highly malleable and volatile materials, such as plastic membranes and air, they are able to shape and structure space. The result can be a site-specific installation within an existing structure, or outdoor pavilions and installations that offer greater potential for relocation.
The definition and history of “pneumatic architecture” have already been explored in an article previously published on ArchDaily. To further expand our focus on the subject, we have compiled a selection of 20 pavilions below that use air as their primary medium, resulting in a wide variety of forms and spaces.
