THE CLOUD
SPATIAL INSTALLATION PROPOSAL FOR HORST FESTIVAL
The cloud structures, central to the installation’s form and symbolism, are composed of inflatable dunnage bags, normally used in logistics, assembled in various sizes and strapped together using velcro. Suspended from a lightweight steel grid held by ceiling-anchored profiles, these clouds form an aerial landscape that is both modular and mobile. Dunnage bags also serve as movable seating, allowing visitors to interact with the space dynamically.The amphitheater adopts a similarly pragmatic yet effective approach. Built from fritz-kola crates fastened with zip ties and topped with OSB panels, the system enables rapid assembly while maintaining robustness and functionality.One of the most critical design interventions is a ramp constructed from a standard scaffolding system. This ensures accessibility, echoing the shared commitment of both Horst Festival and fritzkola to inclusivity. In line with this ethos, the scaffolding is not merely a means of elevation but becomes a structure of interaction. Swings are suspended from it, and its visual language is extended to the adjacent bar, creating cohesion across the rooftop.(Cu) is a spatial proposition where logistical constraints are transformed into creative affordances. Designed for rapid deployment within a 10-day timeframe and minimal budget, it exemplifies how temporary architecture can be imaginative without being resource-intensive. In doing so, it challenges the notion that spectacle and sustainability are mutually exclusive, offering instead a model where play, poetry, and pragmatism coexist.
Horst Arts & Music Festival exists at the intersection of abstract thinking, playfulness, ephemerality, and ecological consciousness. As one of the festival’s spatial anchors, the rooftop installation must reflect these values—offering not just visual intrigue but a participatory, immersive experience that transcends the everyday.The installation, titled (Cu), responds to the unique conditions of its rooftop context. While rooftops are often considered disadvantageous due to their exposure and isolation, (Cu) embraces this spatial quality, transforming it into a narrative asset. Elevated above ground level, the structure dissolves into the horizon—blurring the boundary between architecture and atmosphere. Framed against the open sky, the intervention becomes a temporal mirage: a suspended, surreal moment where visitors are no longer mere spectators, but active participants in a speculative, cloud-like environment.Leveraging its altitude, (Cu) seamlessly merges into the skyline, appearing as a transient formation among real clouds. Through carefully curated colored lighting, the installation captures the essence of a sunset, preserving and prolonging it over the duration of the festival. This atmospheric quality is not purely aesthetic; it establishes a liminal space of visual poetry and emotional resonance.Existing rooftop elements, such as ventilation pipes, are reimagined rather than concealed. They are co-opted into the scenography, releasing smoke generated within the building to contribute to the dreamlike ambiance, another instance where infrastructural pragmatism is folded into the design’s conceptual narrative.Despite its poetic disposition, (Cu) remains grounded in feasibility. Nearly all components are derived from reused or easily accessible materials, supporting both a sustainable ethos and an efficient production process. Crates supplied by fritz-kola, a key partner and advocate of both music and sustainability, are integral to the project. Not only do they function structurally—forming stairs and amphitheater seating.