Tent House is a private family residence designed by Nha Dan Architects, characterized by a spatial concept inspired by the structure of a voluminous tent. The project explores continuity between interior and exterior spaces while addressing environmental conditions within Vietnam’s dense urban setting.

The design is organized around a series of roof planes spanning between two primary structural walls. This approach minimizes the need for interior columns and enables an open, flexible floor plan. The roofs extend over both indoor and outdoor areas, creating a continuous spatial sequence that connects the ground-level garden with the upper-level study. Circulation is arranged so that family members enter directly into a shared, multi-story living space when moving from private rooms, reinforcing visual and spatial connections throughout the house. The layered roof configuration supports natural ventilation and daylighting, with the building orientation and roof geometry optimized to enhance environmental performance.

all images by Hiroyuki Oki

Overlapping roof planes give the residence its tent-like form

Openings between the roof planes frame views of surrounding greenery and the urban context while allowing daylight to penetrate deep into the interior. Operable glass louvers regulate airflow, facilitating cross-ventilation during warmer months and providing protection from heavy rainfall during the monsoon season.

Through its structural strategy, environmental responsiveness, and spatial organization, Tent House by Studio Nha Dan Architects establishes a continuous living environment that integrates domestic life with natural light, air, and landscape. The completed form, defined by overlapping roof planes, recalls the image of a large tent, which gives the project its name.

Tent House is a private family residence by Nha Dan Architects

the design is inspired by the structure of a voluminous tent

the project emphasizes continuity between interior and exterior spaces

the house responds to environmental conditions in a dense urban setting

the structure’s district configuration supports natural ventilation

the house responds to environmental conditions in a dense urban setting

the ground-level garden links directly to the interior living spaces

the resulting floor plan is open and flexible

the structural approach reduces the need for interior columns

a series of roof planes span between two primary structural walls

roofs extend over both indoor and outdoor areas

visual connections are maintained across multiple levels

operable glass louvers enable cross-ventilation

the design integrates light, air, and landscape into daily living

daylight penetrates deep into the interior spaces

circulation leads from private rooms into a shared, multi-story space

project info:

name: Tent House
architect: Nha Dan Architects

location: Vietnam

photographer: Hiroyuki Oki

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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Shelter Wear presents a wearable outer garment that transforms into a livable tent with sleeves that double as backpacks. Created by Tokyo-based fashion student Yoon Myat Su Lin, the design concept originates from her memory of an earthquake in Myanmar, where many people were suddenly displaced and left without safe, temporary shelter. That moment stayed with her, forming the basis of a garment that functions beyond being streetwear. 

Instead of looking at fashion as just a form of creative expression, she channels practicality, asking how a wearable object can support someone during a crisis. At the center of the project is a simple idea: clothing is always with the user, so why not allow it to transform into what they urgently need? This starting point leads to a design that shifts between everyday wear and emergency structure, as the wearable shelter garment converts into a tent, with its sleeves operating as backpacks. Each element is part of the same design, avoiding the need for separate items.

all images courtesy of Yoon Myat Su Lin | photos by Anatolii Ozarto

Sleeves double as backpacks for essential item storage

The wearable shelter garment with tent and backpacks, inspired by the works of fellow designer Aojie Yang, is portable, so users can wear it like any standard outerwear, carrying shelter without the weight or bulk associated with tents or emergency kits. This supports people who need mobility, especially in unpredictable environments, so if a crisis occurs, the user already has what they need on them. Then, it transforms easily, as the garment expands into a tent structure by just unclasping the buckles and unfolding the temporary structure. The way the sleeves shift into backpacks also helps users during rapid movement, as they can store basic items easily at times of distress. 

The design of the wearable shelter garment with tent and backpacks is efficient, too. Instead of producing multiple separate items, fashion student Yoon Myat Su Lin merges them into a single outerwear. This not only reduces material use but also helps users carry only the essential needs during emergencies. The design supports the tent’s shape while remaining wearable when folded, and such hybridization is central to why the design received recognition at the 25th YKK Fastening Awards, earning the YKK Special Award. By embedding protection and usability into clothing, Yoon Myat Su Lin shows how fashion can react to social realities instead of trends.

view of the wearable shelter garment when folded

unbuckling the clasps roll out the tent

the tent comes with sleeves that double as backpacks

rear view of the emergency clothing

the tent resembles a skirt when the user puts the outerwear on

view of the tent

project info:

name: Shelter Wear

design: Yoon Myat Su Lin | @yoon_myat_su_lin

photographer: Anatolii Ozarto | @ozartopro

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As Dekmantel Festival opens its 2025 edition in Amsterdamse Bos, the Netherlands, CURTAIN 01, an architectural installation by ZELT, introduces a constructed addition to the forest landscape. Led by Johannes Offerhaus, the studio’s design takes the form of a suspended textile canopy that stretches above the Selectors Stage, a longtime favorite among festivalgoers. Inspired by couture construction and spatial design, its function is to offer rain protection for DJs performing over the three-day event. Still, the project creates a distinct spatial atmosphere that mediates between the natural setting, the crowd, and the sonic intensity of live performance. ‘The initial idea was to suspend it between two trees,’ the Dutch designer tells us. ‘As the design and forces grew, this became impossible. Now there are four steel poles hidden between the trees that keep the whole installation suspended. This allows me to keep the rest of the details very lightweight and simple.‘

Held aloft by a complex system of ropes, aluminum, and steel, the tensile structure transforms the clearing into what light designer Zalán Szakács describes as ‘some kind of intergalactic sailing ship.’ Its curved, white textile surfaces ripple in the breeze and catch dappled light through the trees. ‘I always aim to make my installations visually interesting from all sides, even backstage,’ Johannes Offerhaus notes. ‘In contrast to more traditional festival scenography, it doesn’t just look good facing forward — and from the back you’re not just looking at zip ties and stapled fabric. I aim to make sure the stage doesn’t just have a face, but that it is a space.’

all images by Woody Bos, unless stated otherwise

a series of repeating, curved forms shapes CURTAIN 01

CURTAIN 01 is constructed entirely by hand from white textile through a meditative process of draping and sewing, drawing from Offerhaus’ early training in fashion. ‘Just like in a draping process where form-finding is done through the process of draping textile around a human body,’ he says, ‘I start modelling and prototyping with textiles. Only my canvas is not the human body anymore, it’s space.’

Designed specifically for the Selectors Stage of the festival, an intimate clearing surrounded by willow trees, the form takes cues from the natural setting. ‘It’s a very intimate stage with a lot of nice hazy sunlight moments,’ the designer and leader of the team at ZELT shares with designboom. ‘It has a very clear identity that I could easily mess with too much.’

ZELT’s canopy is suspended from steel anchors and held in place through a system of ropes and aluminum rods, allowing it to float above the heavy concrete stage element. The fabric is shaped into a series of repeating, curved forms, producing a rippling overhead surface that catches light and wind. Using a single color and consistent geometry lends the structure a calm visual presence, contrasting with the surrounding motion and sound. ‘While playing with the characteristics of curtains, this design evolved to three circular-shaped curtains hanging from the same points that are pushed into three different planes by aluminum tubing. These form the base for the last circle—the rainproof roof of the stage,’ he continues. The rhythmic repetition of the fabric’s curves and seams creates a sense of spatial order. ‘It brings order and makes your eye understand what’s happening,’ Offerhaus observes.

white textile surfaces ripple in the breeze

lighting design references sci-fi films and iconic music shows

The project emerges from Offerhaus’ intention to scale up his textile work. ‘In the last three years, having worked on textile designs at small scale — attached to the body — I really felt the need to scale up,’ he explains. ‘I wanted my work to be very big — to offer a space for more than just one person.’ That opportunity came through a collaboration with Dekmantel’s Creative Director, Albert van Abbe, who invited him to reimagine the scenography of the Selectors Stage. While van Abbe envisioned a prefab concrete DJ booth as a stable core for vinyl sets, Offerhaus came up with a lightweight, expressive textile canopy that hovers above. ‘The heavy concrete — a perfect anchor point — naturally invited in a lightweight (visually and literally) textile tensile piece,’ he adds.

Alongside CURTAIN 01, Szakács’ lighting design brings a cinematic tone to the space, referencing 1970s sci-fi film sets and iconic rock shows such as Pink Floyd’s Pompeii performance through warm whites, amber, and soft blues that mix with the white fabric above.

an overhead surface that catches light and wind

Johannes Offerhaus on his ‘tent designs’

Every component of the structure is crafted in Offerhaus’ Amsterdam Noord studio using industrial sail-making machines. ‘We machine sew everything… it gives us a really good understanding of the materials and their limitations,’ he highlights. ‘The design is very clear until you get all the fabric cut and have to assemble it. You quite easily get lost in between the heaps of fabric behind the sewing machine.’ He and his team follow a highly structured process to ensure precision, knowing they only have days before the festival opens to confirm whether the assembly works.

Offerhaus prefers to let the work speak for itself once it’s in place. ‘I don’t have to inform the spectator how to interpret the work, and I don’t have to present it to them. I can dissolve in the crowd,’ Johannes Offerhaus points out. ‘Obviously the moment the festival starts, my work merges together with that of others – light designers, sound engineers, DJs, performers – and so I become the spectator as well.’

This project follows earlier installations such as GATEWAY at Down The Rabbit Hole festival and KOLOM 01, all part of Offerhaus’ evolving interest in spatial textiles – what he calls his ‘tent designs.’ ‘By calling my installations ”tents” I am forcing myself to slowly find a purpose and function for them,’ he comments. ‘Ultimately, it is a gateway for the terrain.’  

designed specifically for the Selectors Stage of the festival | image courtesy of ZELT

floating above the heavy concrete stage element | image courtesy of ZELT

suspended between the trees | image courtesy of ZELT

a lightweight, expressive textile canopy that hovers above the stage

repeating, curved forms

ZELT’s canopy is held in place through this system of ropes and aluminum rods | image courtesy of ZELT

suspended from steel anchors

a complex system of ropes, aluminum, and steel

project info:

name: CURTAIN 01

architect: ZELT

location: Amsterdamse Bos, Amsterdam, Netherlands

lead architect: Johannes Offerhaus | @johannesofferhaus

commissioned by: Dekmantel Festival | @dkmntl

photographer: Woody Bos | @woodybos

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Louise Middleton, founder of Kudhva campsite hotel, collaborates with architects Ben and Hannah Huggins of New British Design to create the K-Tent, a lightweight, off-ground tent that translates the ethos of the original Kudhva cabins into a portable format. Constructed with a recyclable aluminum frame and durable canvas, the K-Tent combines comfort with minimal environmental impact. Its tripod legs adjust to accommodate uneven terrain, making it versatile for diverse landscapes. Designed to house two guests comfortably, the K-Tent reimagines the traditional tipi and yurt aesthetic while maintaining a minimal footprint and off-grid functionality.

all images by Matt Cannon courtesy of New British Design, unless stated otherwise

K-Tent captures off-grid lifestyle with its modular design

The K-Tent by Sandford-based New British Design extends Kudhva’s vision of architectural wilderness experiences, responding to a growing demand for accessible versions of the original cabins. With its lightweight and modular design, the tent offers a solution that avoids the complexities of planning permissions while capturing the off-grid lifestyle celebrated by Kudhva’s off-grid campsite in Cornwall. This innovation makes the K-Tent suitable for wellness retreats, festival stays, and wilderness adventures.

New British Design unveils the K-Tent, a lightweight, off-ground tent | image by Louis Domville-Musters

translating the ethos of the original Kudhva cabins into a portable format

constructed with a recyclable aluminum frame and durable canvas

the K-Tent combines comfort with minimal environmental impact | image by Louis Domville-Musters

tripod legs adjust to accommodate uneven terrain

the tent is versatile for diverse landscapes | image by Louis Domville-Musters

designed to house two guests comfortably | image by Louis Domville-Musters

the K-Tent reimagines the traditional tipi and yurt aesthetic

maintaining a minimal footprint and off-grid functionality | image by Louis Domville-Musters

project info:

name: Kudhva Kanvas, K-Tent | @kudhva_kanvas
designer: New British Design 

lead designers: Ben Huggins, Hannah Huggins

photographers: Matt Cannon | @cannonmatt, Louis Domville-Musters | @louismusters

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: thomai tsimpou | designboom

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Clover Studio has unveiled its latest project, Hegra Viewpoints, located in the archaeological and wildlife-rich area of AlUla, Saudi Arabia. Commissioned by The Royal Commission for AlUla, this series of tent structures integrates architectural, cultural, and ecological sensitivities to create temporary structures that provide unique perspectives within a safari-style wildlife reserve.

Tasked with creating compact structures that leave no lasting impact on the UNESCO World Heritage site, Clover Studio’s design prioritizes minimal intervention. ‘The temporary structures were designed to be lightweight and sensitive to the site and completely removable without any ground disturbance,’ the architects explained. By ensuring full reversibility, the project aligns with AlUla’s long-term vision of preserving its historical and ecological integrity.

visualizations © Clover Studio

clover studio’s Lightweight and Removable Design

Designing its Hegra Viewpoints, Clover Studio reimagines the historic Bedouin tents traditionally used by the Nabatean people of the region. These tents, historically crafted from fabric and palm tree posts, served as both functional and symbolic elements in the desert landscape. The design team’s approach replaces these traditional materials with stretched fabric over monolithic curved walls, creating a ‘novel but sympathetic silhouette’ that exists in dialogue with its vast, desert surroundings. This reinterpretation takes shape with architecture that honors the Nabatean legacy through a modern lens.

Designed as part of a curated customer journey, the viewpoints combine architectural storytelling with guided narratives. Each viewpoint strategically frames significant views of nature and wildlife, offering visitors a chance to engage deeply with the landscape. ‘The three viewpoints frame specific views of nature in key habitat locations; they also act as a storytelling tool for the guides,’ Clover Studio noted. Exhibition-style boards, designed in tandem with the viewpoints, complement the guided tours by providing educational insights and context.

Clover Studio’s multidisciplinary approach integrated architectural design, exhibition graphics, and narrative planning. ‘The customer journey narrative and interventions in the landscape were developed through storyboard sketches and a design process that combined multiple disciplines,’ the architects shared. This cohesive design strategy ensures that the viewpoints serve as functional shelters within the remote landscape, while doubling as immersive educational tools.

Clover Studio designs its Hegra Viewpoints for a safari-style experience in AlUla

the structures are temporary and fully removable to protect the UNESCO site

stretched fabric and curved walls create an evocative silhouette

each viewpoint frames specific views of wildlife and key habitats

the design is inspired by Nabatean and Bedouin tent traditions

the viewpoints offer shade and immersive engagement with the landscape

project title:

name: Hegra Viewpoints

architect: Clover Studio | @cloverstudio.ltd

location: Hegra, AlUla, Saudi Arabia

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Jordan Boon and Harry Beardsley of Southsea, UK, reimagine portable saunas with the PortaSauna HEX, designed specifically for the challenging weather of Northern Europe. The robust, semi-permanent sauna tent is intended for long-term use in outdoor settings, withstanding harsh elements without compromising portability. Its stitching pattern creates larger insulation pockets, allowing for improved heat retention, and enabling faster drying after exposure to rain. The thicker TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) windows help maintain internal temperatures by reducing heat loss, making the sauna effective even in colder climates. With its semi-permanent capabilities and high-quality materials, it provides a year-round outdoor experience while traveling or as a garden retreat. 

all images courtesy of Jordan Boon and Harry Beardsley

PortaSauna HEX features a compact wood-burning stove

Built in 2024, the PortaSauna HEX is crafted from upgraded materials, including a 600D outer fabric (up from 300D in previous models) for the roof and corners and 420D (previously 300D) for the walls, protecting against rain, snow, and wind. Its enhanced insulation, with cotton wadding, increased from 90 gsm to 170 gsm, improves thermal retention, while a 420D fire-retardant inner liner ensures safety during use. The hexagonal stitching pattern further boosts the sauna’s heat retention and drying capacity, making it a durable and efficient choice for outdoor use.

At the heart of the experience is the PortaStove, a compact wood-burning stove that quickly heats the sauna to optimal temperatures. The stove reaches 78°C (172.4 F) in 15 minutes and can achieve a maximum temperature of 100°C (212 F) in just 45 minutes. This efficiency, combined with the upgraded insulation, allows users to enjoy a hotter, more efficient experience using less wood.

Jordan Boon and Harry Beardsley of Southsea, UK, reimagine portable saunas with the PortaSauna HEX

designed specifically for the challenging weather of Northern Europe

the robust, semi-permanent sauna tent is intended for long-term use in outdoor settings

withstanding harsh elements without compromising portability

its innovative stitching pattern creates larger insulation pockets

larger insulation pockets allow for improved heat retention

thicker TPU windows help maintain internal temperatures by reducing heat loss

with its semi-permanent capabilities and high-quality materials, it provides a year-round sauna experience

built in 2024, the PortaSauna HEX features upgraded materials

project info:

name: PortaSauna | HEX
designer: Jordan Boon / Harry Beardsley

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: thomai tsimpou | designboom

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Nestled within the verdant expanse of the Archstoyanie Land Art Festival in Nikola-Lenivets, Russia, the Resonance Pavilion by BQ Studio showcases the potential of reclaimed materials and the impact of sustainable design. Conceived during a time when the construction industry generates waste equivalent to 226 Great Pyramids of Giza annually, this pavilion intends to redefine how we approach architectural innovation. Constructed entirely from repurposed materials—scaffolding, insulation, and reclaimed pipes—Resonance aims to challenge the conventional view of waste by transforming discarded elements into the festival’s architectural centerpiece. The skeletal frame of scaffolding, once temporary, now serves as a permanent symbol of resilience and ingenuity. Overhead, a tented roof stretches over the space, creating a temporary yet protective canopy that dances with the wind. 

all images courtesy of BQ Studio

Resonance serves as multi-purpose venue for land art festival

At the heart of the pavilion by BQ Studio, a towering stele crafted from reclaimed pipes anchors the space. This literal and metaphorical central feature embodies the project’s mission to elevate what is often overlooked and inspire new ways of thinking about materiality and space. By day, Resonance hosts workshops and discussions on sustainability and creative reuse. By night, under the play of vibrant lighting, it transforms into a dynamic cultural hub—a dance floor where the energy of the festival reaches its peak. This shift from day to night highlighted the versatility of the structure, showcasing its ability to function as a multi-purpose venue. The Russian studio emphasizes modularity and adaptability through the design of the pavilion, making it easy to assemble, disassemble, and reconfigure in various settings. This approach aligns with the principles of the circular economy, where materials and structures are reused rather than discarded, extending the utility of the pavilion far beyond the festival. 

nestled within the verdant expanse of the Archstoyanie Land Art Festival in Nikola-Lenivets, Russia

Resonance Pavilion by BQ Studio showcases the potential of reclaimed materials

this pavilion intends to redefine how we approach architectural innovation

the skeletal frame of scaffolding serves as a permanent symbol of resilience and ingenuity

constructed entirely from repurposed materials—scaffolding, insulation, and reclaimed pipes

Resonance aims to challenge the conventional view of waste

a towering stele crafted from reclaimed pipes anchors the space

transforming discarded elements into a striking architectural centerpiece

shifting from day to night, highlights the versatility of the structure

project info:

name: Resonance Pavilion
designer: BQ Studio
location: Nikola-Lenivets, Russia

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: thomai tsimpou | designboom

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NIKE ISPA introduces the Metamorph Poncho, its new fashion design that transforms into a sunshade or camping tent within seconds. It has a large vent or pocket behind the poncho, which stores collapsible poles used to set up the sunshade. This part also doubles as the bag to carry the sizable cloak, so the user can bring it anywhere they go. The Metamorph Poncho is made of water-repellent material, letting raindrops slide down the fabric.

NIKE ISPA’s team combined multiple thin layers of select fibers so that users can wear the Metamorph Poncho and sunshade year-round. It is lightweight enough to be carried around wherever they want to bring it and can keep the user warm or cool (perhaps with the exception of extreme weather conditions). The Metamorph Poncho is made with at least 75 percent recycled fibers and is relaxed enough to fit various body sizes.

images courtesy of NIKE

all-in-one clothing and gear in NIKE ISPA series

NIKE ISPA’s team reassures users that they shouldn’t worry if they’re unsure how to set up the sunshade or camping tent since instructions are included. Although the product description states that it’s made of 100 percent cotton, the material’s appearance, as stated on the ‘how it was made’ page of the Metamorph Poncho, resembles nylon, a material that NIKE repurposes to align with its recycling mission.

The company also recycles carpet and uses fishnets, and the nylon they employ is converted into flakes before undergoing chemical or mechanical recycling processes to create new, recycled nylon yarns. As of publishing the story, NIKE ISPA’s Metamorph Poncho is available online for 600 USD. This multifunctional cloak is released alongside its sibling, the NIKE ISPA Metamorph Jacket, which transforms into a year-round vest in seconds, complete with side and back pockets.

back view of the NIKE ISPA Metamorph Poncho with vent or pocket for the collapsible poles

the sunshade or tent doubles as a water-repellant poncho

view of the sunshade or tent

portable collapsible poles inside the vent or pocket of the Metamorph Poncho

pocket or vent view

since the Metamorph Poncho is made of water-repellent material, raindrops slide down the fabric

the Metamorph Poncho is made with at least 75 percent recycled fibers

detailed view of the clasps

detailed view of the poncho

NIKE ISPA’s Metamorph Poncho turns into a sunshade or tent within seconds

project info:

name: Metamorph Poncho

company: NIKE ISPA

The post NIKE ISPA’s latest poncho can morph into a tent-like sunshade appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

EX., a design workshop founded by Andrea Cassi and Michele Versaci, completes a mountain bivouac at almost 3,000 meters of altitude in the north-western Italian Alps. Pinwheel Shelter is built in memory of Stefano Berrone and functions as a a fully reversible and foldable wooden and aluminum tent. This discreet intervention in the alpine landscape follows the analysis of sun exposure and wind directions, establishing a continuous dialogue between the architecture, the valley morphology, and its atmospheric agents. ‘The architecture primarily provides shelter and protection for alpinists, and at the same time helps to explore the relationship between an artificial structure and its natural environment. This investigation delves into the project’s long-term impact on the natural context and its interaction with the surrounding environmental conditions,’ shares the EX. team. 

all images courtesy EX.

foldable, lightweight, and reversible tent structure

Pinwheel Shelter is based on three key principles — the first being reversibility and lightness. Following that concept, the EX. studio designs the tent as a light, minimally invasive, and reversible structure composed of CLT panels and supported by a steel base resting on four prefabricated plinths. These features optimize weight and facilitate assembly and dismantling operations. The result is a dry system built in four days and easily dismountable. The second principle explores the relationship between architecture and landscape. Cassi and Versaci wanted to celebrate the alpine nature by enabling a 360-degree immersion thanks to four windows inserted in the tent’s multifaceted geometry. The aluminum shell defines an ‘atmospheric’ architecture, engaging in a dialogue with the alpine light, the colors of the rocks, and the surrounding snow slopes — creating a constant interplay of reflections and responds dynamically to changing weather conditions.

Pinwheel Shelter is a foldable wooden-aluminum tent structure

The last layer looks at the tent as a meeting place. A radial organization of space defines the position of the beds around a central compartment – a symbolic fireplace – following proportions that echo a tatami. The reduced internal height and the sloping roof have do not stand inside the bivouac: like in a tent, the alpinists must duck and either sit or lie down on the wide larch wood platform. ‘This spatial configuration resulted in eight/ten beds minimizing the shelter’s dimension, and particularly its height: the top point measures 2.80 meters corresponding to the top of the shell on the outside,’ notes the team. 

CLT panels and supported by a steel base resting on four prefabricated plinths

focusing on localization and territorial planning

Pinwheel Shelter sits in the Upper Susa Valley, specifically between the ridges of Mount Seguret and Valfredda, between the municipalities of Oulx and Bardonecchia. The localization responds to landscape logic and respects the distance from the skyline. Furthermore, it offers another stopover useful to the high-altitude paths that cross this zone frequently and are subject to thunderstorms and sudden meteorological changes. A few ruins are scattered around the Seguret valley, but no other structure sustains the mountaineering activity.

Pinwheel Shelter sits in the Upper Susa Valley,

The localization chosen defines a new base, reducing the distance between the Oulx and Bardonecchia valleys, and the other bivouacs situated both in the Galambra zone and in Vallone delle Monache. Together with the Sigot and Blais bivouacs and with the Valfredda shelter, this new structure adds a stopover along the Ambin Traverse — a hiking and ski-touring route going up from Rochemolles or Jaffreau to the Ambin Mount and then descending to the Clapier Pass. In other words, mountaineers get to choose an alternative path with an intermediate stop, reducing the distance between other supporting shelters. ‘The localization of the Pinwheel shelter answers territorial planning logistics, essential for the design and construction of emergency bivouacs, and has been defined with the participation of local authorities,’ concludes the project team. 

the design by EX. follows the analysis of sun exposure and wind directions

reduced internal height and a sloping roof

mountaineers can enjoy the scenic alpine views

Pinwheel Shelter sits almost at an altitude of 3,000 meters

project info:

name: Pinwheel Shelter 

location: 

architect: EX. (here) | @studioex.space

design team: Andrea Cassi and Michele Versaci with Serena Giardina, Alberto Benetti (architectural design), GZMZ (renderings), Corrado Curti (structures), Guido Zanzottera (building envelope), Secondo Antonio Accotto (geological report), Paolo Bottino and Marco Trucano (Natural House)

wooden structure, envelope & installation: Natural House (Paolo Bottino, Giuseppe Bertetti, Marco Trucano, Roberto Merlo, Ullah Assad, Gianni Testa, Bottino Legnami, Wood House snc, Serramenti Casale); Mattia Moretto, Guido Ambrosiani, Alberto Pignata

foundations: Perfor (Fortunato Treve, Giorgio Pourpour, Sokol Krasniki) and Faure Calcestruzzi

transportations: Heli Aosta

completion date: October 2023

The post pinwheel shelter emerges as a foldable wooden and aluminum tent on a remote alpine slope appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

In response to the evolution of cultural engagement post-pandemic, where a shift towards hyper-local experiences was observed, the Mobile Event Tent (MET) initiative brings ‘culture on the doorstep.’ Realized by Research Design in collaboration with In Certain Places, and Strive 2 Thrive Lancashire CIC, the MET introduces flexible architectural infrastructure to facilitate co-production with local communities, inspired by local needs.

As an octangular mobile arts center, the MET’s primary structure comprises four custom 20 ft high cube shipping containers with side-opening doors. Connected by an internal demountable floor and equipped with access ramps, these volumes provide and entirely accessible space for all. The structure is enveloped in a translucent stretch tent fabric, transforming into a bespoke, adaptable, versatile venue — be it an auditorium with tiered retractable seating for 100 people or a compact twelve-meter square venue. Within, sustainable lighting, utilizing both daylight and low-energy LED sources, illuminate the MET’s translucent outer skin, creating a captivating glowing object in the nocturnal landscape.

the Mobile Event Tent installed at University Square, UCLan | image by Charles Quick

a community collaboration initiative

Practice Research Design worked alongside community specialists, In Certain Places, and grassroots community organization, Strive 2 Thrive Lancashire CIC to craft the Mobile Event Tent. Additional collaborations with cultural groups across the city guided by artist Jenny Steele resulted in engaging internal wall decorations that reflect Preston’s cultural heritage. The structure itself, designed without the need for specialized machinery or ground anchors, is particularly suited for urban environments, car parks, or school playgrounds. All components are neatly packed into containers for easy relocation, facilitating ease of mobility and efficiency from site to site.

Originating from a dialogue between the client and the design team, the MET responds to the cultural gaps experienced by communities on the city’s periphery. By providing a high-quality mobile arts center, the initiative ensures inclusivity and co-production with the communities it serves. This approach allows the MET to transcend the confines of city centers, reaching neighborhoods with limited cultural opportunities and actively bridging gaps.‘By taking a piece of cultural infrastructure on the road, it reaches out to communities far and wide, bridging gaps and breaking down barriers. It moves beyond the confines of the city centre, venturing into neighbourhoods where cultural opportunities are low,’ notes the design team. By bringing the arts directly to communities of disadvantage, the MET’s collaborative model ensures that everyone has a chance to participate, learn, develop skills, and be inspired. In Ribbleton, on the outskirts of Preston, it hosted 40 free events over 30 days, attracting over 1,000 participants. Events ranged from cinema screenings and performances to dance, skill development workshops, and community meals.

installed at Ribbleton on the periphery of the city | image courtesy of RPT Creative

interior with seats retracted ready for an audience | image by Charles Quick

community afternoon tea for over 100 senior citizens | image by Sachin Rana

performance in front of community artwork by Jenny Steele | image by Charles Quick

realized by Research Design, In Certain Places, and Strive 2 Thrive Lancashire CIC | image by Martin Porter

all components that form the Mobile Event Tent are stored within 4 shipping containers | image by Charles Quick

low-energy LED sources illuminate the translucent outer skin at UCLan | image by Charles Quick

project info:

name: Mobile Event Tent (MET)
designer: In Certain Places, Research Design, Strive 2 Thrive Lancashire
location: Preston, United Kingdom

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edited by: ravail khan | designboom

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