Lacy Inflatable Mobile Pavilion Pops Up Like A Circus Tent for Mobilizarte in Brazil

Although the<a href="http://inhabitat.com/mobilizarte-prefab-balloon-pavilion-will-travel-throughout-brazil-before-2016-olympics/"> winner of the Mobilizarte design competition</a> has already been announced, we're still seeing some intriguing designs pop up (literally) for the mobile pavilion. Mobile Cultural <a href="http://www.mobilizarte.com/eng/1_mobilizarte.html">Mobilizarte</a>, a lacy inflatable pavilion, was designed through a collaboration between <a href="http://www.frentes.com.br/" target="_blank">FRENTES arquitetura</a> and  <a href="http://www.pax.arq.br/" target="_blank">PAX.ARQ</a>. The flexible pavilion can be easily installed to accommodate each site and relies on three elements: scaffolding, prism towers and an inflatable membrane, and upon arrival the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/edge-condition-scrap-wood-pavilion-is-a-dizzying-jenga-like-sculpture/" target="_blank">pavilion</a> pops up in less than five days just like a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/photos-foster-partners-newly-opened-worlds-biggest-tent/">circus tent</a>. Everything needed to build the modular pop-up pavilion fits inside two shipping containers.

Mobile Cultural Mobilizarte is an ephemeral and itinerant pavilion made up of three elements, all which pack neatly into containers for shipment.

A set of scaffolding towers, which are easily assembled, very stable and adaptable to any kind of terrain, form the skeleton of the pavilion.

The Prism is a white box formed from scaffolding 15 meters high and wrapped in a waterproof canvas.

Serving as a projection screen for films and other media, the Prism also serves as a storage area and protected space for equipment.

Finally, the membrane is used to create a covered space over the pavilion grounds.

Inspired by two traditional Brazilian elements that serve to cover and protect, which are the crochet, lace and patchwork quilts, and the hollow elements (“cobogós”), the membrane is made from inflatable beams and a waterproof and UV layer.

During the day sunlight streams in through the translucent membrane and at night lighting shines out through the lace-like pattern.

The membrane is raised up onto the scaffolding just like a circus tent is raised and provides a large 550 sq meter space for events.

The membrane can be twisted, tilted, tumbled, hung, laid, stretched, twirled or languidly spread to create hundreds of variations for the pavilion.

No two installations will ever be alike and the site will determine the size and shape.

The pavilion can be attached to other existing buildings to extend their space or it can be set up in an open field or parking lot to act on its own.

One potential layout for the pavilion.

Two floor configuration with the Prism on the left.