The Bubble Tree

If you are a camper, like I am, you may have had thoughts of possibly sleeping under the stars so you may gaze upon them as you drift of to sleep, but decide against it because you never know whats lurking in the bushes 20 feet from you. I have always dreamed of having a tent that is transparent so that you can enjoy your natural surroundings and be free from the bugs and critters of the night. French designer Pierre Stephane Dumas has designed a rather unique luxury tent called the “Bubble Tree”. The tent is reminiscent of a bubble, or a light bulb, that sits right smack dab in the middle of nature.

The series features transparent and opaque inflatable luxury tents – the CristalBubble, the BubbleRoom, the BubbleLodge, the GrandLodge, and the Bubble Drop. Some of the bubbles are completely transparent, where the others are a walled version, similar to a cocoon.  The tents are fully furnished with sofa sets, beds, electric lamps, cushions and the like. It is akin to living in a bed and breakfast hotel, only this time, you decide the location – whether in the mountains or amidst the trees in the dense forest.  According to the designer, the tent was designed to afford campers “an unusual experience under the stars” while retaining the pleasure of hotel suite like comforts.

The tent is easy to assemble and can be set up at a moments notice. It maintains its bubble shape with an airlock at the entry and a noiseless pump that maintains a constant pressure within the walls. The tents are environmentally friendly and are made up of recyclable material. Don’t worry about getting baked when the sun hovers overhead as the material is designed to protect you from the harmful UV rays.


 

The tents are available all over France for $635 per night on rent. If you would like to own one of these bubblies, you would have to pay a hefty price tag of $11,914. I am not sure if it is worth owning a tent that is the price of a small vehicle, but you are guaranteed breath taking 360 degree views 24/7. 

JADE - Jewelry Store

For one of the semesters in college, I had to design a retail space.

Challenge: Find a building that inspires you to create an interesting and unique design for a retail space of your choice. Take aspects of the existing design and manipulate it to create a design of your own.

Solution: The concept for the Jade Store was surmised from the Louis Vuittonstore façade in Tokyo. The designer, Jun Aoki, placed illuminated and transparent squares all over the exterior of the building. In my adaptation of this design, the interior space is defined by a repetition of cubes. Some are used as showcases, others are display pedastals. The scattered array of these cubes help to lead the consumer through the space and define a specific path to each showcase of merchandise.

Preliminary design concepts for retail design. First model comprised of elements taken from building. Second model comprised from first model, Third and final model consolidation of first two models.
    



Jade Rendering











 Jade Model Views

This shows the top view of the space without the ceiling.

This shows the front view looking inside the store.