Open Culture: After the massive Fukushima earthquake in 2011, architect Arata Isozaki and artist Anish Kapoor created the Ark Nova, an inflatable mobile concert hall, designed to bring music to devastated parts of Japan. Made of a stretchy plastic membrane, the Ark Nova can be inflated within two hours. Add air in the afternoon. At night, enjoy a concert in a 500-seat performance hall. Afterwards, deflate, pack on truck, and move the gift of music to the next city.
10 comments:
When I first saw this article I thought the idea of an inflatable concert hall sounded silly, but after reading the article I realize my initial impression was very wrong. This was both a very cool idea and looks like it was executed very well. I’d love to hear about all the aspects that went into planning it, specifically in terms of how they made decisions in terms of the shape for the sake of acoustics. I always would love to have been in the room with this idea was first suggested, just to hear what the initial reactions were since it seems a bit absurd before you really think about it. Regardless, it looks gorgeous, the portability is amazing, and it seems like it effectively allows for people to enjoy concerts while the area is being rebuilt. I wonder if more of this exact model of concert hall or more like it will end up being put up in other areas, such as places affected by the recent hurricanes.
The intention and innovation for this concert hall is remarkable. The sentiment in creating a concert hall in a place that has been greatly affected for people that have been devastated by the earthquake, is something thats necessary in the artistic world. Knowing Anish Kapoor's varying modern style, I'm curious as to what his approach was when starting this project, what curves he was focusing in on. The technical aspects also have me floored, its one thing to take a concert on tour but its completely different to take a concert hall on tour, which provides for a crazy level of challenge for both the technical designers and those managing the hall. I'm particularly interested in how they worked with the plastic membrane to make it more breathable considering the amount of oxygen intake and circulation that occurs during a concert. Overall, the idea is one that I assume will be soon found all around the world, perhaps replacing the idea of a traveling circus with a traveling concerto hall.
This inflatable concert hall is incredible. It’s a little creepy to see the inside where there are no windows and where the walls are completely curved. Especially with the uvula looking thing that makes it seem like you’re inside a creature. But the idea and reason for existence behind this is so good. To go into parts of a country that have been devastated by an earthquake - where home have been completely knocked down - and bring in a building that cannot be brought down by an earthquake shows that we are better and stronger than the destruction that has happened. And the fact that it is a concert hall; a place where music and art can inspire and encourage the people. It’s perfect. I really want to know the details of how this building works. How much power does it take to inflate it? How do they keep the air in? Do they have to turn the air intakes off during the performances because of the noise? It’s a fascinating problem that they seem to have solved so completely.
This project is very interesting in many ways. First, I think it is great that this building's main purpose is to bring music to those who would be devastated by a natural disaster. The sustainable and mobile structure of the building would work nicely to transport to areas otherwise destroyed. I really like what the narrator of the video said about how the building is a great mixture of architecture and art because it is a building that gives you all the amenities that a concert hall might need but also speaks to your emotions. I think that this technology can certainly be made an example of. When speaking about areas in disaster, I can easily see this type of structure being used and relief shelters that can pop up quickly to help those who have lost everything. Overall, I think both the idea behind the structure and the execution of the project have created a beautiful and touching piece of art.
When I first saw this structure, I immediately thought of the last last chapter of Salvadori's "Art of Construction" about balloons and inflated structures. I think it is so cool that a plastic sheeting is so thin and flimsy can be transformed into something so big and sturdy and breathtaking. Before reading this book, I had never really thought of balloons being something sturdy, being able to withstand tension and compression when used appropriately, and this concert hall is a beautiful representation on how an inflated structure can so strong, which I think is also a good message to the tsunami struck community. No matter how weak they seem, they will always have some sort of strength.
The other thing that stuck out to me was what the narrator said in video: that architecture is something "which [makes] space" and art is something "which [reaches] inside of us and evoke emotion and feeling". I had never really thought about those two things before: to me architecture was it own type of art creating beautiful spaces. I had not thought of it as creating emotions, but I guess he is right. Art does exist to tell stories and evoke emotions. I also agree with the point he makes about how more building need to be created with artistry in mind. Too often do I see concrete or steel structures, built just for there purpose, and I believe if more detail was put into the art and emotion into the buildings in cities, it would make them much more beautiful and less industrial.
I think this is a fantastic idea. Ark Nova seems to be the result of a perfect blend of artistic architecture, practical design, and civic ingenuity. The video mentions it feels like a cathedral – it’s impressive that its creators have found a way to make something beautiful and spacious while still being so eminently functional.
As the video mentions, the creation of Ark Nova acknowledges that after a natural disaster (or any kind of destruction or catastrophe) there is another kind of healing that needs to be addressed. Buildings are easier to repair than hearts and spirits. The arts, especially music, can support that healing and not only help a damaged community feel more internally connected in a shared positive experience, but remind them that they are also connected to the outside world.
I wonder if something like this could be used to bring the symphonies to areas of the country (world?) that may not have access to the amenities of a metro area.
This is an absolutely brilliant idea, and I love that the designer was inspired by Fukushima to create something so practical and innovative out of the destruction from a natural disaster. Not to mention the fact that it looks beautiful. Depending on the time it takes to set up, this really could become a fantastic way for companies to present performances in unconventional areas, or atleast give them the freedom to set up a full blown concert in an area that may have better infrastructure or a more ideal location in a city/town than where the pre-existing concert hall or theatre may be. Should this be practical enough, it truly could innovate the way that performing companies and artists travel from city to city and where they present in the city and go about booking a tour. This could provide opportunities for them to simply find an open plot of land rather than booking through a venue.
I absolutely love this. First off, I think making a portable concert hall is a brilliant idea. The message it brings with it to the people devastated by the tsunami is inspiring. I love that it is a concert hall, because music can be such an uplifting source of hope and happiness. I also absolutely love what the narrator in the video said about how this building is a collaboration between art and architecture. For me, I have always been invested and loved architecture but always felt it had too many restrictions with the health codes and parameters. This is partially why I went into theater, the stage is a play where I could design structures like buildings but with endless opportunities and varieties of creative outlets to it. However, the Ark Nova is inspiring to see because it is so abstract and yet practical, a perfect combination of what I want to achieve.
This is a fascinating pathway for concert venues to continue down. This is a place that, in the face of massive amounts of destruction and devastation, will be able to serve as a unifying meeting place in which art can bring a community together and lift it up. The actual structure within itself is incredible. I wonder about the process in which they created this structure in the sense of troubleshooting. In a simple introduction, I already have many questions about the ability of air flow, inflation, and actual building codes, so I am so curious about the conversations the designers and constructors must’ve had where they talked through all of these roadblocks. Overall, I am so impressed with this design, and I am inspired by the impact it will have on its community.
Having been to Japan before, one of my immediate takeaways from my visit was how incredibly innovative and resourceful the country was concerning everything from environmental issues and architecture to natural disasters. While reading this article about the amazing inflatable concert hall called the "Ark Nova", I felt the description of this innovation synthesized my previous notions about Japan's technology-- extremely original, aesthetically beautiful, and created always with the world's environment in mind. The concert hall itself seemingly resembles something of a giant, fleshy organ, with the ingenious concept of being able to inflate the venue hours before an event and break it down and transport it immediately after the event is finished, all with an extremely reduced carbon footprint. I believe we need more innovators, architects, and artists like those in Japan who take it upon themselves to create inventions that are simultaneously beautiful and environmentally conscious that the world today so desperately needs.
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