Poetic Cosmos of the Breath is an Inflatable Solar Dome by Tomas Saraceno

A few months ago we featured Tomas Saraceno's incredible geodesic Cloud City at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, so we couldn't resist a fast look back at the Argentinian architect's previous work, including the Poetic Cosmos of the Breath solar dome. One of his original utopian floating cities, this 2007 foil commission supported by the Arts Council England was constructed in time to meet dawn at Gunpowder Park in Essex, and everyone who saw it was left astounded by its captivating brilliance.

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Saraceno is renowned for his conceptual work with floating cities, all of which to date have married art and architecture in some astounding ways. The Poetic Cosmos of the Breath was made of foil that shimmered with rainbow colors when the dawn light reflected on the exterior material. Inflated and weighted down with sandbags, the dome was sheer and almost translucent – just like a cloud.

Art blogger Michaela Crimmin, who witnessed this spectacular event, wrote “his is why I work with artists – this is a serious, magical, unique, positive experience. This is invigoration for the Green movement, for the Climate Change lobby, for the scientists pouring over statistics and charts. Thanks to Saraceno and to Arts Catalyst we who were there will remember this morning for the rest of our lives.” As Saraceno continues to experiment with utopian floating cities, each new construct becomes progressively more complex.

+ Tomas Saraceno

Via Fastco Design

Photos by David Cottridge