Mexican designer Noberto Miranda has designed the Intermittent Dome, which is an inflatable classroom that is crafted from PVC. The area also has an integrated shell that is supported by air pressure. It was made for the Arts and Cultures Program at Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey. The building is made from clear PVC and measures six meters in height with striations detailed by the white PVC sheets to create a special effect.
Miranda shares, "Zippers access air cells into what could be the thinnest shelf ever, 0.35 millimetres thick, totally suspended by air pressure. It has four access points and is a very silly process [to access] because it literally blows your face [when you open it]; we developed some skills to get the material passed the zipper but once inside it behaves pretty well."
Image Credit: Noberto Miranda
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Inflatable Architecture
- Using air-supported structures for classrooms offers novel solutions for portable and temporary educational spaces.
- Transparent Construction Materials
- The use of clear PVC in architecture introduces new aesthetic possibilities and functional transparency in building design.
- Air-pressure Supported Shelves
- Creating ultra-thin, air-supported shelving systems highlights advancements in material science and space-saving designs.
Where This Applies
- Educational Technology
- Incorporating portable, inflatable classrooms into schools could revolutionize how and where education is delivered.
- Construction Materials
- Innovations like clear, durable PVC can transform traditional building techniques and introduce environmentally responsive designs.
- Furniture Design
- Developing air-pressure supported shelving can lead to lightweight, more versatile, and easily assembled furniture solutions.
