Acclaimed architecture studio MAD recently designed the Ephemeral Bubble – an installation that looks like a bubble being blown by a century-old wooden house! It is designed for the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale in Japan. Tucked away in the Murono Village in the Japanese countryside, the bubble is made using a PVC membrane, and is a component of the old house called China House Huayuan. The home is utilized to display Chinese art and culture.
Designer: MAD
The Ephemeral Bubble for the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale was designed to open “a dialogue with the ancient Japanese countryside”, the studio said. “This design adds a temporary, flexible space that mimics the lightness and translucence of breathing air,” they added. The large bubble is connected to the home, and it rises and expands creating a space that can be utilized for performances or ceremonies. It features a “biomorphic” design which is inspired by nature. The installation also intends to encourage spiritual exploration.
“This concept of bubbles also introduces a playful and interactive space, making the experiential installation ideal for emotive and spiritual exploration,” MAD said. “This approach emphasizes the importance of engagement in design.”
During the evenings, the inside of the bubble lights up forming a mesmerizing lantern-like effect. Visitors can look out through the blurred walls, although the colors and shapes of the outside world are hardly visible. This creates the ambiance of “soft light”. The installation also helped to upgrade the historic wooden house. It was designed in such an interesting manner that it looks as if the house created itself.
“Picture our century-old house drifting off to sleep, gently blowing bubbles as it dreams,” said architect Ma Yansong. “This fusion of virtual and tangible elements, combining the old and the new, brings new life into the ancient building,” MAD concluded.
