Ecosistema Urbano, one of the winners of the J. Irwin and Xenia S. Miller Prize, has proposed Cloudroom as part of the 2021 edition of Exhibit Columbus in Columbus, Indiana. The installation seeks to rethink public spaces for education by raising awareness about today's environmental challenges. Floating above a wooden structure on Central Middle School's lawn, this inflatable cloud creates a community space with a shaded microclimate for learning, playing, and sharing. By fostering new learning methodologies through direct experience, it offers a welcoming environment suitable for various activities bridging the school and public space.
An ecological approach and a social focus are the two pillars of Cloudroom, an installation designed in collaboration with the students and staff of Central Middle School. The project responds to the theme “New Middles: From Main Street To Megalopolis, What Is The Future of The Middle City?", proposed by curators Iker Gil and Mimi Zeiger.
Through an ecological approach that incorporates bioclimatic design, materials, and lighting, Cloudroom creates a comfortable microclimate by providing shade. As the designers explain, the fans that inflate the cloud circulate air to create a natural breeze, pushing hot air up and out through the center of the structure. The air entering the cloud and released at the center of the pavilion is purified by two filters that remove pollutants, creating a healthier atmosphere underneath.
On its inner surface, the installation features a collage of words taken from the 1992 United Nations Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, combined with findings from a survey conducted among the school's students regarding their concerns, hopes, and future dreams. On the exterior, the image of a maple tree canopy—a species characteristic of the Indiana ecosystem currently threatened by climate change—is depicted on the surface.
Illuminated from within, it creates lighting scenarios that represent Earth's climate change over the past century using three environmental parameters: temperature rise, deforestation, and CO2 levels. Data spanning the last 120 years is represented through a color-coded system across three LED light strips. According to the designers, this lighting raises awareness about climate change and our collective responsibility for the future. Additionally, the structure is built using printed fabric, ropes, and wood—materials that will be reused and recycled once the installation is dismantled.
From a social standpoint, the project serves as a public space mediator between school users and the broader Columbus community. Much like the interventions featured in the article Temporary Plazas: 13 Public Spaces Activating the City, which activate underutilized or vacant urban spaces, Ecosistema Urbano aims to transform this lawn into an active hub for students, families, and the community at an intermediate scale between school and city. Its architectural features evoke classical elements such as the dome and the oculus, introducing visitors and students to historical architectural concepts.
Inside, the structure contains yoga balls that function as lightweight furniture, allowing users to interact with the space in multiple ways. The design team notes that Cloudroom can host lounge areas, science classes, or even performances. Ultimately, it accommodates both learning and recreational activities for the school, as well as programming for the city of Columbus.
Ecosistema Urbano - Team
Project Directors: Belinda Tato, Jose Luis Vallejo
Design Team: Antonella Milano, Alejandro Fuentes, Marco Rizzetto, Elena Castillo, Hala Nasr, Jorge Izquierdo, Adrian Sanchez, Maria Vittoria Tesei, Alberto Garcia, Alina Nazmeeva
Engineering Consultant: Theta Consulting, Tim Franklin
Lighting Design and Programming: glowC
Construction
Fabrication: Ignition Arts
Inflatable Fabrication: Landmark Creations
This article was written by Agustina Iñiguez. The translation is powered by AI.
