The Right To Flight | TDO Architecture

Three months ago we started a collaboration with the artist James Bridle to design structures from which he could launch a Balloon from the roof of Bold Tendencies car park in Peckham.

Inspired by James’ work and his interests in appropriating existing technologies, we investigated how to achieve large and quickly deployable structures from which a balloon could be launched or internal sheltered spaces formed on the rooftop.

The design developed into a group of three large circular buildings which each house a different programme, centred around a raised platform, framing views outwards towards the city skyline.

The balloon ascends daily on its flights from this trio of monumental structures designed in collaboration with structural engineers Lyons O'Neill, consisting of; a rooftop balloon hangar, workshop and exhibition space, where the project will be worked on and documented onsite. There will also be a series of evening talks held within the workshop during the summer.

“ It has been an exciting challenge to be part of this collaboration between Architects, Artist, Engineers and Gallery, to design a 150m2 gallery pavilion to house a large, military-grade helikite balloon alongside space for the artists’ residency and talks this summer. This had to be delivered from concept to opening night within 10 weeks.
The design developed out of researching large scale aeronautical shelters and rapidly deployable structures, from Zeppelin Hangers to Buckminster Fuller’s Dymaxion Shelter, leading the design towards appropriating industrial structures that were assembled on site in a matter of days.
We wanted to address the panoramic skyline view by channelling views vertically towards the Balloon in flight. The positioning of the three circular structures creates a series of interlinked spaces framing views outwards towards the skyline while the spaces between the corrugated walls emphasise the sky above.
The exposed nature of the site and restrictions from penetrating the rooftop waterproofing led to a structural solution by engineers Lyons O’Neill to utilise sandbags to ballast the pavilions to the rooftop while referencing the practices of balloon flight."