Down In The Clouds
DOWN IN THE CLOUDS
Increments Studio, Practice On Earth
ARCHITECTS
Increments Studio, Practice On Earth
INFLATABLE MANUFACTURER
Shanghai Congxi Equipment
OPERATOR
Ningbo Xiangwang Cultural Tourism Co., Ltd.
LOCAL CONSTRUCTION TEAM
Huang Lunyü, Wang Haihua, Master Song, And Others
CLIENT
Dun’ao Village Collective Economic Cooperative
DESIGN TEAM
Wu Haotian, Wang (Cloe) Yun, Lü Yancheng (Practice On Earth), Hu Liang, Naomi Ng (Increments Studio)
CONTAINER FABRICATION
Ye Zhongdong’s Team
PHOTOGRAPHS
Cloe Yun Wang
AREA
290 m²
YEAR
2024
LOCATION
Ningbo, China
CATEGORY
Installation
English description provided by the architects.
Dun'ao Village in Xiangshan, Ningbo, sits inland among low hills and rice fields. The project began with a desire to reflect the calm, poetic atmosphere of this secluded landscape.
Instead of rigid architectural frameworks, we initiated the design with sketches and poems, aiming for lightness, openness, and play. We revitalized three abandoned utility structures using a combination of steel containers and inflatable forms.
These prefabricated systems enabled rapid installation and allowed us to craft flexible, playful spatial experiences across three sites:
I THE CLOUD CAFE
Located at the farmland entrance, the Cloud Cafe replaces a disused utility room. The inflatable "cloud" acts as a soft landmark and forms a large cantilevered canopy that shelters events beneath it.
A 3×3×8m container tower houses a compact coffee bar and supports a rooftop viewing deck, only accessible through the inflatable. It frames a unique view of the surrounding rice fields and mountains.
II THE LEANING CINEMA
Built on the site of an old billboard, the Leaning Cinema reimagines a 15°-tilted container propped on two points, creating a stepped interior for screenings.
Supporting columns wrapped in inflatable rings conceal HVAC units and add whimsy—making the box appear to rest on soft balloons. Inside the 30m² structure, acoustic panels, projection equipment, and ergonomic backrests support both comfort and function.
III THE SECRET READING ROOM
At the foot of the hills, this semi-outdoor pavilion uses a ring of seven inflatable spheres within a raised steel frame.
Visitors part the soft balloons to enter, discovering a contrast between hard materials—aluminum ceiling, stainless-steel desks—and the inflatable's tactile softness. In sunlight, the inflated forms cast gentle, changing shadows. The surprise of soft versus solid became a key spatial experience.
TECHNIQUE, EXPERIMENTATION & LOCAL MAKING
Unlike typical short-term uses, inflatables were conceived here as lasting architectural components.
To address their performance and durability, we worked closely with manufacturers through multiple rounds of prototyping, from 1:20 hand models to 1:1 installations.
Different inflation systems were used: the Cloud's large PVC mesh required continuous air pressure, maintained by dual blowers. This ensured function even with punctures and reduced material weight.
The cinema and reading room used sealed PVC spheres, welded for gloss and strength. Early testing revealed challenges—such as material sagging and sealing failures—which were resolved through scale adjustments and craft refinement.
Though prefabricated, on-site adjustments were critical. Misalignments and unfamiliar methods demanded extensive dialogue with local workers.
After nearly a month of coordination and assembly, the final outcome aligned with the design intent. Even skeptical villagers eventually approved: "It really looks good."
While modest in size, the project served as a full-cycle experiment in rural cultural tourism, from conceptualization to hands-on construction. It became not only a spatial intervention, but also a joyful collaboration—true to its name, Down in the Clouds.
