A Space For Calm - Sean Lusk

The "Cumulus; A space for Calm"
Sean Lusk

 The "Cumulus; A space for Calm" was designed by Jordi Iranzo, Stefanie Rittler and Nadine Kesting, graduates of Germany's Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design. The space was created in order to make users feel like they were floating in a suspended cloud. The construction of the suspended form was designed with the intent of easy assembly and dis-assembly with the students opting for a locking tubular steel work base. The fabric chosen is a permeable white elastic spacer fabric that allows for breathability and the integration of the elements. The designers wanted the structure to adapt to the weather conditions rather than block them out, the permeable fabric allows for the penetration of wind and water. The structure was installed on the University Campus after it was built with intentions to install it globally in the future. The structure is accessed through via a rope ladder that is partially covered in a netting that allows users to rest within it like a hammock. The cloud is outfitted with soft glow lighting orbs and at night emits a subtle luminescence that highlights the shadows and forms created by those inside. The small top opening in the center exposes the interior views to a small portion of sky rather than surroundings to create the feeling of weightlessly floating through the air in a soft cloud. The structure allows for a moment of pause and calm within the hectic University environment going on around it. The space created is both playful and calming, with a simplicity of form and materials used.